Pair of Bucs post top-10 finishes

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Sept. 5, 2022) – The ETSU women’s triathlon team held its inaugural ETSU Aquathlon on Saturday morning as sophomore Abby Church (Chantilly, Va.) paced the Buccaneers with an eighth-place finish. 

The event consisted of a 500-yard swim and two-mile run, marking ETSU’s first on-campus triathlon event. The swim was held inside the Basler Center for Physical Activity (CPA) and the run was held around the intramural fields, Summers-Taylor Stadium, Dave Mullins Tennis Complex and William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium. 

“I was really happy with how the team performed this weekend,” said ETSU women’s triathlon head coach Allie Nicosia. “We have a lot of newcomers added to this year’s roster and a lot of work to put in this season, but it was a really great experience to be able to open up our season at home and on campus. We hope to make this an annual event!” 

Church placed eighth overall in a field of 33 competitors with a time of 18:36. Church, who recorded a time of 5:56.4 in the swim, earned ETSU 26 points in team scoring. Izi Belogay (Sterling, Va.), a freshman All-American last season, finished right behind Church in 10th with a mark of 18:46. Belogay registered a time of 5:58.2 en route to totaling the Blue and Gold 24 points. 

Queens University took the top seven spots individually to sweep both titles. Letizia Martinelli won the individual crown with a time of 17:21 (6:03.1 in the swim), while Queens totaled 155 points as a team. 

Lenoir-Rhyne finished second with 111 points, ETSU was third (98 points) and King placed fourth (43 points). 

The Bucs return to action on Sunday, Sept. 25 when ETSU heads to Troutman, N.C. for the Cal Tri Charlotte.

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