CUBA– Two Sun Devil Triathlon student-athletes, sophomores Heidi Jurankova and Naomi Ruff, kicked off the 2024 World Triathlon Circuit with strong performance at the America's Triathlon Cup La Habana Olympic distance draft legal triathlon in Cuba last weekend. In a race that boasted eight Olympic athletes, Jurankova finished 14th with a time of 2:02:55 and Ruff finished one spot behind her Sun Devil teammate at 15th with her time of 2:03:17.
Head Coach Cliff English praised his young student-athletes, "I am incredibly proud and happy of their performances. This was Heidi's third Olympic distance event and Naomi's first attempt at this distance. It is comprised of 1500m swim /40km bike and 10km run. Heidi had a front pack swim, two of the fastest transitions, the fastest bike split and a new PB in the 10k. Naomi swam the same time as U.S. Rio Olympic gold medalist Gwen Jorgensen in the front pack and had a very strong bike and a very strong 10k. A fantastic race throughout. Very strong debut at this distance!"
On the world circuit, the team is currently in the Olympic qualifying period up until May 27, meaning that the races are competitive with international athletes all vying to qualify for the Olympics this August in Paris. A large amount of these collegiate athletes also need to compete in these races in the non-championship segment this Spring term in search of world ranking points to help them earn National Team status and World Championship selection.
Naomi and Heidi finished 2nd and 5th, respectively, at the 2023 NCAA Collegiate National Championships and led the Sun Devils to their seventh National Championship.
Fans can find full tournament results here: triathlon.org/results/result/2024_americas_triathlon_cup_la_habana/628437.
NEXT UP:
Five members of the team are headed to Clermont, Florida on March 2 to compete in the USA Triathlon National Elite Development Race. The Sun Devils competing are Faith Dasso, Maddie Judas, Camille Buchanan, Even Welch, and MJ Lopez Aguirre.
The following week, Sun Devil Triathlon will send student-athletes to the World Triathlon PATCO America's Championship March 8 in Miami, Florida. It will be the first opportunity for our Junior Elites, who are 19 years of age or below, Zoe Adam and Sidney Clement to qualify for world champs for their countries next October in Spain.
The Under 23 athletes, Faith Dasso, Naomi Ruff, Camille Buchanan and Amber Schlebusch, will also have an opportunity for selection here for world's in Spain and for making national team criteria.
Head Coach Cliff English praised his young student-athletes, "I am incredibly proud and happy of their performances. This was Heidi's third Olympic distance event and Naomi's first attempt at this distance. It is comprised of 1500m swim /40km bike and 10km run. Heidi had a front pack swim, two of the fastest transitions, the fastest bike split and a new PB in the 10k. Naomi swam the same time as U.S. Rio Olympic gold medalist Gwen Jorgensen in the front pack and had a very strong bike and a very strong 10k. A fantastic race throughout. Very strong debut at this distance!"
On the world circuit, the team is currently in the Olympic qualifying period up until May 27, meaning that the races are competitive with international athletes all vying to qualify for the Olympics this August in Paris. A large amount of these collegiate athletes also need to compete in these races in the non-championship segment this Spring term in search of world ranking points to help them earn National Team status and World Championship selection.
Naomi and Heidi finished 2nd and 5th, respectively, at the 2023 NCAA Collegiate National Championships and led the Sun Devils to their seventh National Championship.
Fans can find full tournament results here: triathlon.org/results/result/2024_americas_triathlon_cup_la_habana/628437.
NEXT UP:
Five members of the team are headed to Clermont, Florida on March 2 to compete in the USA Triathlon National Elite Development Race. The Sun Devils competing are Faith Dasso, Maddie Judas, Camille Buchanan, Even Welch, and MJ Lopez Aguirre.
The following week, Sun Devil Triathlon will send student-athletes to the World Triathlon PATCO America's Championship March 8 in Miami, Florida. It will be the first opportunity for our Junior Elites, who are 19 years of age or below, Zoe Adam and Sidney Clement to qualify for world champs for their countries next October in Spain.
The Under 23 athletes, Faith Dasso, Naomi Ruff, Camille Buchanan and Amber Schlebusch, will also have an opportunity for selection here for world's in Spain and for making national team criteria.