CLERMONT, Fl. - Today the Calvin women's triathlon team finished its 2024 season as they traveled to Clermont, Florida, to compete in the Division III National Championships. 
 
Calvin finished fifth in a field of eleven teams, scoring a total of 213 points. In the five trips that the Knights have made to Nationals this was the third time the team has taken fifth. 
 
Junior Kathryn Gardner (Sarasota, Florida/Riverview) had a standout day as she took 2nd in Division III with a time of 1:06:06. She had the best split times for the Knights as she posted a 10:42 bike time, 32:02 bike time, and a 21:27 run time. Brianna Timmer (Byron Center, Mich./Plymouth Christian) was the next Calvin finisher in 24th place as she crossed the finish line at 1:18:46. 
 
Sophomore Nadia Beran (Stevensville, Mich./Lakeshore) finished at 1:22:51 in 33rd place while freshman Sydney Stewart (Hutto, Texas/Hutto) was close behind in 35th place at 1:23:05. Freshman Anika Bouwman (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) rounded out the group for the Knights she took 41st place with a time of 1:29:07.  
 
COACHES COMMENTS: "We had some mishaps with the team today," said head coach Katie Carpenter. "Brooklyn Badders was kicked in the head during the swim and suffered an injury which kept her from competing Saturday and Bekah experienced her first bike crash, ending her race after a strong swim. But it was an initiation for her into being a true triathlete. 
 
The rest of the team stepped up for the missing team members to pull a hard earned fifth place finish. Gardner had a stellar race. She put it all together from an incredibly fast swim on Friday to hanging with the pack on the bike. She is going to be missed tremendously next year as both an athlete and a compassionate team leader!
 
I couldn't be more pleased with how hard these ladies work and persevered this season."