2015 UCLA Triathlon Report

UC San Diego Tritons

The Tritons are rebuilding after the graduation of a number of top performers who led the team to a 4th place finish in the WCCTC and an 8th place team finish at the 2014 Collegiate Nationals. While UC San Diego’s women’s team finished 5th at Nationals and the men finished 12th, a strong men’s field is intent this year on improving on their performance at Nationals.

Athletes to Watch:

Gretchen Stumhofer: (8th - 2014 Collegiate Nationals Olympic, 7th – 2015 Tritonman Collegiate DL)

The former Stanford rower led the Cardinal to two NCAA Championship titles and had a breakout 2014, her first year competing in collegiate triathlon. She had the fastest female bike split at Nationals and won the Iron Bruin draft-legal race in November. A second-year medical student, she will not be at this year’s Nationals, but look for her at other WCCTC races.

Esther Walker: (56th- 2014 Collegiate Nationals Olympic,16th – 2015 Tritonman Collegiate DL)

The team’s vice-president, Walker won last year’s Wildflower Collegiate Olympic and took 2nd at UCI’s Zot Trot. Her improved bike strength will make her a formidable competitor this year.

Megan Cross: (95th - 2014 Collegiate Nationals Olympic)

The women’s team captain, Cross consistently records the fastest run splits in her races. Look for her to use her run speed and strength at Nationals and the WCCTC Championship.

Bill Jones: (2nd - 2014 Collegiate Nationals Olympic, 1st – 2015 Tritonman Collegiate DL)

Always a threat to win the overall title at Nationals, Jones is in his final year of collegiate competition and this year has added a strong run to his formidable swim and bike splits.

Jeffrey Dahlen: (73rd - 2014 Collegiate Nationals Olympic, 14th 2015 Tritonman Collegiate DL)

A stress fracture last year hampered Dahlen’s run training before Nationals, but look for the former standout Carnegie Mellon swimmer to put together a strong performance at Nationals.

Jason Stofleth: (121st - 2014 Collegiate Nationals Olympic)

The men’s team captain, Stofleth is a solid performer at the Olympic distance and has been improving steadily in all three disciplines throughout the year.