Article by Autumn Green.

During the 2015-2016 term, Drury announced an addition of four non NCAA sports teams that would be added, one of those sports being a women’s triathlon team.

Logo via Drury Athletics.

A triathlon is a multi-stage competition that consists of three different sports, swimming, cycling and long distance running. It is a women’s sport that is competed nationally.

The recruiting process can be a difficult deal, especially when it comes to finding people who can be trained in three or more sports and have the drive to compete at a college level.

Douglas Fredrick, recruiting assistant coach of the women’s triathlon team mentions the characteristics and qualities they look for in recruiting new women to the team.

“We look for girls who are leaders on the triathlon course as well as in the classroom,” said Fredrick. “Positive character traits are more important than natural athletic ability. You can take two athletes; one who has a little more natural ability and the other who has a stronger work ethic and more positive attitude, and the second athlete will almost always eventually outperform the first athlete.”

Fredrick mentions how women’s triathlon is not considered a NCAA sport currently, although this may be subject to change.

“Women’s triathlon is listed as an ‘emerging’ NCAA sport because technically that’s what it is,” said Fredrick, “not just with our university, but with every program in the country.”

Fredrick weighs the outcomes of why the sport hasn’t been considered NCAA level. He believes other universities need to take interest before this is possible.

“Certain metrics need to be hit, including a minimum number of universities across the country incorporating the sport into their athletics department,” said Fredrick. “Beach volleyball went through the same process within the last several years.”

Coach Fredrick explained that triathletes must learn and be excellent in three disciplines. He explains how these disciplines are similar to an equation to success.

“You also have the transition from the swim to the bike to the run which is both an art and a science to master. Finally, you have what is sometimes referred to as the fourth discipline, which is nutrition,” said Fredrick.

Brad Hamman, head coach of the women’s triathlon team, and Fredrick believe that if their athletes can excel in managing all three disciplines, then it would make for a great training regime.

Hamman and Fredrick are currently in the process of building Drury’s triathlon team for the 2018-2019 season. The coaches are planning to have somewhere between five to seven girls. They hope this will help the team finish their first season as one of the top three in the country across the NCAA divisions.

“We can’t make any official announcements until after the early signing date on November 1,” explained Fredrick. “Rest assured, we will be a force to be reckoned with right out of the gate! Drury athletics has a legacy of excellence, and we plan on being a program that will generate a lot of buzz next year.”

The women’s triathlon team is considered an emerging sport with a lot of potential at Drury. NCAA and USA triathlon is working hard toward championship status at the collegiate level which Drury is soon to be a part of that change. Drury’s Triathlon team is scheduled to have their first meet the summer of 2018. More information will be available closer to the start of the season.