Arizona State women’s triathlon will be defending its 2016 national title in Tempe.

ASU has been selected to host the Triathlon Collegiate National Championship on Nov. 5 at Tempe Town Lake and the surrounding area. It will be the third team national championship since triathlon became an emerging sport for women in 2014. The event is a 750-meter swim, 20K bike and 5K run.

In its first year as varsity, ASU won the national title and had three of the top seven individual finishers — Katie Gorczyca second, Amy Darlington fifth, Charlotte Ahrens seventh. Other than Darlington, all of the 2016 team returns and coach Cliff English has added three new signees.

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Tempe annually hosts the Ironman Arizona triathlon (Nov. 19 this year) as well as other multi-sport races. USA Triathlon, which stages the women’s collegiate championship, previously held its collegiate club championships in Tempe in 2013 and ’14.

“Arizona State sees itself as an ambassador for the emerging sport of women’s triathlon and will use the opportunity to host the 2017 national championships as a platform to introduce and educate other NCAA member institutions on the collegiate model of the sport,” said Ray Anderson, ASU Vice President for Athletics.

ASU is the only power 5 school currently with a varsity triathlon team. Other schools with varsity teams include East Tennessee State and 11 others. 

“It’s truly an honor and very exciting for ASU to be hosting the national championships,” English said. “I am thrilled we are able to play a part in growing the sport of triathlon through our actions at ASU and hosting nationals will allow us to showcase these incredible young women as they compete on a truly world-class course at Tempe Town Lake.”