Triathlon Season Starts Strong: Second Place at Duquesne Cup

Duquesne's triathlon program launched its 2026 season in style — hosting the Duquesne Cup at Brady's Run Park and landing second place overall among 57 competitors, with four athletes cracking the top 20.

A Strong Season Opener at Brady's Run Park

The Duquesne triathlon team wasted no time making a statement in the 2026 season. Racing on home turf at Brady's Run Park, the Dukes organized and competed in the Duquesne Cup, a sprint-distance event that drew a 57-athlete field. The team's collective performance secured a second-place finish, showcasing the depth and preparation the program has built heading into the new season.

Four Duquesne athletes finished inside the top 20, a result that signals real competitive firepower across the roster. Hosting an event carries its own pressures, and the team responded by turning the occasion into a platform for high-level racing.

Four Duquesne athletes finished inside the top 20 of a 57-person field — a depth of performance that bodes well for the season ahead.

Course Breakdown: Sprint Distance Done Right

The Duquesne Cup featured a classic sprint-distance layout designed to test every discipline. Athletes tackled a 750-meter open-water swim before transitioning to an 11.8-mile bike ride completed over three loops. The event closed with a 5K run across two loops, rewarding athletes with sharp transitions and strong run legs.

Sprint-distance racing demands speed and tactical awareness in equal measure. There is no room to coast — every second in transition and every split on the run course matters when athletes are separated by fractions of a minute.

Top Performers for the Dukes

Catherine Staley — 12th Overall

Sophomore Catherine Staley led the Duquesne squad with a 12th-place finish and a total time of 1:03:02.34. Her swim split of 9:58.17 put her in strong position early, and her run split of 19:49.41 demonstrated the kind of closing speed that wins races as the season progresses. Staley looks like one to watch all year.

Isabella Fernández Aguirre — 14th Overall

First-year athlete Isabella Fernández Aguirre made an immediate impression on the collegiate triathlon circuit, crossing the finish line in 14th place. For a debut collegiate performance, racing into the top 15 of a multi-team field is a strong foundation to build on across the rest of the season.

Rachele Lavagno — 18th Overall

Junior Rachele Lavagno rounded out the top-20 contingent with an 18th-place finish. As an upperclassman, Lavagno brings race experience that helps anchor the team's competitive core, and her result adds consistency to what was a well-distributed team effort.

Staley's 9:58 swim split set an early tone — and her sub-20 minute 5K confirmed she is racing with full-season ambitions.

What This Result Means for the Season

Finishing second at your own home event, against a strong field, sends a clear message: Duquesne is prepared and competitive from race one. For a collegiate triathlon program, a confident season opener builds the mental and tactical habits that carry teams through championship racing later in the year.

With a mix of experienced juniors and promising first-year athletes already delivering top-20 results, the Dukes have the roster balance to compete at the highest levels of collegiate triathlon. The 2026 season is off to a strong start, and the team's next races will reveal just how high the ceiling sits.

Follow the team's progress on Twitter, Instagram, and at GoDuquesne.com.

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