TEMPE, Ariz. (Nov. 13, 2021) – In just her fourth race at the Division I level, freshman Izi Belogay (Sterling, Va.) has continued to impress after a high school career in cross country and swimming. Belogay led the Bucs with a time of 1:07:14.4, good for an 11^th overall finish in a field of 46.

The freshman entered the running portion in 21^st, but managed to fight her way near the top-10, finishing just outside of it. This past year has included the first few triathlon races for the product from just over the mountains. With the finish as the top amateur, Belogay received her NCAA Elite License.

Fellow freshman Sarah Plant (Chandler, Ariz.) also notched a top-20 finish in return to her home state. Plant is local to the greater-Phoenix area where the race took place. She and senior Lane McDonald (South Bend, Ind.) each posted under a time of one hour and ten minutes to help guide ETSU to a fifth overall finish. Freshman Abby Church (Chantilly, Va.) finished in the top four athletes for ETSU, as all four finished within the top-30 of the field.

“Honestly, the girls all raced really well,” said Head Coach Allie Nicosia on her team’s fifth-place finish. “I’m really proud of all of them and how far they have come. I’m excited to keep building for the future.” Last week, Nicosia brought in Delaney Hammill as a 2022 recruit.

Juniors Lindsey Batkiewicz (Johnston, Iowa) and Holle Guntz (Indianapolis, Ind.) and senior Cameron Seeley (Blacksburg, Va.) rounded out the field for ETSU as a whole. All three were members of ETSU’s third-place team finish in 2019.

San Francisco’s Kira Gupta Baltazar won the overall event with a time of 1:04:20.8, but Arizona State took their fifth overall championship with 35 points. San Francisco (58) and South Dakota (68) rounded out the top three.

Below are ETSU’s race times and finishes among Division I competitors.

11. Izi Belogay, 1:07:14.4

18. Sarah Plant, ETSU, 1:08:35.8

25. Lane McDonald, 1:09:29.3

28. Abby Church, 1:10:25.4

31. Lindsey Batkiewicz, ETSU, 1:11:09.8

35. Holle Guntz, ETSU, 1:12:37.3

42. Cameron Seeley, ETSU, 1:17:56.5

For more information on Buccaneer triathlon, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the women’s triathlon page.