Duquesne University Becomes 10th NCAA Division I School to Add Varsity Women’s Triathlon

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. / SPORTSWIRE WOMEN/ – USA Triathlon, along with Duquesne University Vice President of Athletics Dave Harper, today announced that Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, will become the 10th NCAA Division I program to offer women’s triathlon at the varsity level. The team will begin competing in fall 2023. 

Duquesne is the third school in 2022 to commit to offer women’s collegiate triathlon and the first since USA Triathlon added its 40th school in February, an important milestone in triathlon’s journey to becoming an NCAA Championship sport. Deemed an NCAA Emerging Sport for Women in 2014, triathlon has met the 10-year window to demonstrate sustainability and success at the NCAA varsity level. Now, women’s triathlon has a few more steps to take on its way to being fully managed by the NCAA as a championship event, including committee, council, divisional and budget approvals.

The addition of women’s triathlon as Duquesne newest varsity sport is made possible through a grant from the USA Triathlon Foundation. The USA Triathlon Foundation Women’s Emerging Sport Grant is distributed to select NCAA membership institutions to develop, implement and sustain women’s triathlon programs at the varsity level.

“We are extremely pleased to add the sport of women’s triathlon beginning in the fall of 2023. USA Triathlon was a key partner in our decision to add the program. They provided us insight and better understanding as to why women’s triathlon would be a great addition to our varsity sports programs,” said Duquesne Vice President of Athletics Dave Harper. “We are also extremely grateful for the grant from the USA Triathlon Foundation. It was a key piece to help us establish our plans to implement the program quickly and will be used strategically to assure our triathlon student-athletes are supported for success academically and in competition.”

Duquesne is the second school to offer women’s collegiate triathlon in Pennsylvania, joining DIII Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania. The Dukes compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

“We are thrilled to welcome Duquesne University to the women’s collegiate triathlon family. As the first Division I program in the state to add the sport, the school is sure to attract top student-athletes in the region,” said Rocky Harris, USA Triathlon CEO. “Women’s collegiate sports are thriving and we continue to gain momentum as we move toward our goal of triathlon becoming an NCAA Championship sport.”

Women’s triathlon is a fall sport, and the varsity season includes two National Qualifiers followed by the Women’s Collegiate Triathlon National Championships held in November. The draft-legal races are sprint-distance, featuring a 750-meter open-water swim, draft-legal 20-kilometer bike and 5-kilometer run.

For more information about triathlon as an NCAA Emerging Sport for Women, visit usatriathlon.org/ncaa. Interested in helping to identify and recruit the next women’s varsity collegiate triathlon program? Inquiries may be directed to Tim Yount, USA Triathlon Chief Sport Development Officer, at tim.yount@usatriathlon.org.

About Duquesne University

Founded in 1878, Duquesne is consistently ranked among the nation’s top Catholic universities for its award-winning faculty and horizon-expanding education. A campus of nearly 8,500 graduate and undergraduate students, Duquesne prepares students by having them work alongside faculty to discover and reach their goals. The University’s academic programs, community service, and commitment to equity and opportunity in the Pittsburgh region have earned national acclaim. Follow Duquesne University on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. www.duq.edu

About USA Triathlon

USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon, paratriathlon, and indoor and virtual multisport events in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,000 races and connects with more than 400,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Triathlon Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of World Triathlon and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).

– usatriathlon.org –