BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – Freshman Allison Heine placed 15th to pace the Navy women's triathlon team to a third-place finish in the season opener at the Duquesne Collegiate Cup in Beaver Falls, Pa., on Sunday morning.
 
The sprint-distance course featured a 750-meter swim, a 20-kilometer bike ride and a 5-kilometer run. The Midshipmen competed in a field of 59 athletes representing six programs, finishing third overall with 215 points. Defending national champion Arizona won the event (275 points), while host Duquesne took second (224 points).
 
"First of all, credit to the University of Arizona for coming off a solid summer of work and showing they are the squad to beat this year," head coach Billy Edwards said. "Next, credit to Allison [Heine] and how we can still prepare to be ready to compete through the rigors of plebe summer."
 
Heine clocked a time of 1:04:00, pacing a tight pack of Midshipmen who claimed three-consecutive spots in the top 20. Dylan Cashin crossed the finish line just three seconds later, taking 16th place with a time of 1:04:03, while Keira Wilkinson secured 17th place in 1:04:45.
 
"Credit to our upper class for racing smart and with authority on the bike," Edwards said. "Keira and Dylan were part of a group that didn't lose ground to the front pack."
 
Navy added two more top-25 finishes from Allison Miller and Madelyn Berry. Miller placed 23rd with a time of 1:07:07 and Berry followed closely in 24th at 1:07:36.
 
"Madelyn stayed in the fight despite a tough start to the race, and she still ran into our fifth scoring spot," Edwards added. "MC [Kistler] has this team rolling so well from training camp and through our first trip."
 
Leah Norton finished in 26th place (1:08:04) and team captain MC Kistler claimed 32nd (1:09:19). Ella Sims completed the course in 1:15:42 to take 42nd place. Alongside Heine, freshman Julia Lisa also made her collegiate racing debut, finishing 45th overall with a time of 1:17:37.
 
"We are overall happy but definitely have some work to do as we move forward into the season and when we return here in three weeks," Edwards said.
Navy will return to Beaver Falls for its next race on Sept. 19 to compete in the Beaver County Collegiate Cup.
 
Team Scores
1. Arizona: 275
2. Duquesne: 224
3. Navy: 215
4. Delaware State: 177
5. La Salle: 164
6. Northern Kentucky: 109
 
Navy Individual Results
Allison Heine – 15th place – 1:04:00
Dylan Cashin – 16th place – 1:04:03
Keira Wilkinson – 17th place – 1:04:45
Allison Miller – 23rd place – 1:07:07
Madelyn Berry – 24th place – 1:07:36
Leah Norton – 26th place – 1:08:04
MC Kistler – 32nd place – 1:09:19
Ella Sims – 42nd place – 1:15:42
Julia Lisa – 45th place – 1:17:37
Natalie Wang – DNF