Willamette triathlon takes No. 4 at nationals

WU triathlon athlete breaks through the finish line. Art by Adrian Axtell.

Since its foundation in 2021, Willamette University's triathlon program has turned an emerging NCAA sport into one of the school’s most impressive competitive success stories. In just a few seasons, the Bearcats have earned podium finishes at multiple regional qualifiers, consistently ranking among the top DIII programs in the country, and most recently competed at NCAA Nationals, taking No. 4 for the second year in a row — a milestone that signals how quickly the team has risen in the national landscape. 

Competing in a sport with few DIII teams nationwide, the Bearcats are learning to thrive by embracing heavy travel to find competitive races across states, training relentlessly and building a culture rooted in adaptability and care. The Bearcats’ squad regularly finishes ahead of longstanding programs at regional championships and secures top DIII placements on the national stage. 

Triathlon is a sport that combines swimming, cycling and running into one continuous race and has only recently entered the collegiate athletics world. Recognized by the NCAA as an emerging sport, it is still building its competitive infrastructure, with fewer than 50 universities nationwide fielding teams. 

This means athletes often compete in unconventional formats, travel widely to find qualifying events, and line up against schools from multiple divisions in the same race. Yet Willamette has quickly become one of the most promising DIII programs, earning recognition at this year's West Regional Championships in Texas and placing No. 3 among the top DIII teams in the country. 

Unlike some DI programs, Willamette faces unique logistical challenges. There are few DIII triathlon squads in the US, so the Bearcats often compete in mixed field or unconventional events, finding races in creative ways just to get the race experience. Many races, like Newport and Mount Sasha, are community triathlons where their head coach Brett Franz works with race directors to make sure the team is able to compete with each other. 

In these races, they have to make sure to have at least one other collegiate team racing, too, and the course must be close to sprint triathlon length. They travel long distances, including to major competitions — recent ventures include races in Arizona, Illinois and Texas — but despite these hurdles, the team continues to rise. 

For the athletes, success goes beyond results. It's about community, growth, and the discipline it takes to balance three different forms of competition, plus academics. 

Because the sport is relatively new, the team has had the rare opportunity to shape its own traditions. “We still have the liberty to create our own culture and do things how we want,” said Natalie Thomas (’27), a third-year triathlete. “Other teams have built-in traditions, but we change every year in good ways. We adapt to the people and the different personalities.” Thomas was named Collegiate Triathlon Coaches Association (CTCA) All-Region after her performance in the West Regional Championships on Nov. 8 in Tempe, Arizona.

Before a race, Thomas focuses on mental clarity: “I try to keep my head as clear as possible and visualize what I’ve done and what my race could look like. I visualize myself performing at the level I want to perform at.” She added that nutrition is also important leading up to a race in order to maintain her energy levels.

Triathletes train hard, about 15 hours a week, balancing swims, rides and runs alongside recovery and coursework. Thomas admitted the season can be grueling: “I’m sore for eight months straight. My body gets physically exhausted, but it's a good kind of tired. I crave that.” Triathlon's constant progression is what keeps her hooked. “It's an emerging sport — we progress every single race. It's really rewarding.”

Willamette's program represents something larger than athletics; it’s proof that new programs can succeed without precedent, that small schools can compete nationally, and that team culture can be both competitive and compassionate. “Going to practice is never something I dread,” Thomas said. “That’s kind of a blessing, especially for a full-season athlete. You get tired, you get burnt out — but I look forward to it everyday.”