From Inaugural Season to Podium Finishes: What UIndy Triathlon's Second-Place Performance Reveals About Program Growth

Published September 12, 2026 — UIndy Women's Triathlon

Imagine starting a triathlon program from scratch — no history, no reputation, and no recruiting connections. Now picture standing on the podium during a collegiate race against established teams in NCAA Division III, just two seasons later. That's exactly what the University of Indianapolis Women's Triathlon team achieved at the Mississinewa Collegiate Cup. Their runner-up finish is a testament to where this program is headed.

Runner-Up Status Against Elite Competition

The Mississinewa Collegiate Cup attracted some of the Midwest's strongest collegiate triathlon teams, and the UIndy women proved they belong. Finishing as a team in second place, they only trailed North Central College.

What makes this achievement even more remarkable is the timing. This was UIndy's second race of the fall season, occurring just a week after hosting their own Greyhound Splash & Dash in Indianapolis. Competing at a high level two weekends in a row — especially in a sport as demanding as triathlon — requires both physical strength and mental toughness. Consistent training systems and strategic preparation are essential for this kind of back-to-back performance.

Athlete	Class	Place	Time
Geraldine Vazquez	Junior	2nd	1:07:24
Abby Poe	Freshman	5th	1:09:54
Nadia Beran	Junior	14th	1:16:06
Haley Uberta	Freshman	16th	1:18:42
Darby Cottrell	Freshman	17th	1:20:48
Chelsea Newton	Freshman	18th	1:21:20
Heidi Bloomer	Freshman	20th	1:23:59
Lilly Joseph	Freshman	Sub-90 min	—
Sydney Rhodehamel	Graduate	Sub-90 min	—

With seven out of nine UIndy competitors finishing in the top 20, it's clear that this level of performance is no accident.

A Junior-Freshman Duo Leads the Greyhounds

At the core of UIndy's success were two standout performances that shone brightly on race day.

Geraldine Vazquez, a junior, finished 2nd overall with a time of 1:07:24. This impressive result puts her ahead of most competitors while representing a program that's still finding its footing. Her contribution was essential to the team, showcasing the level of talent required for consistent success.

Freshman Abby Poe secured a 5th-place finish in 1:09:54. It's remarkable for a first-year athlete, in just her second collegiate race, to finish among the top five against seasoned competitors. The difference between Vazquez's and Poe's times was just 2 minutes and 30 seconds, highlighting how closely matched these two athletes were on the day.

Together, Vazquez and Poe set a strong foundation for UIndy, placing two of the top five finishers on their roster — crucial for scoring in collegiate triathlon. For athletes looking to develop their competitive edge, quality racing gear and proper equipment can make a meaningful difference in performance.

The stats say it all: two athletes within three minutes of each other at the top, plus five more UIndy teammates not far behind. This scoring spread is the kind that builds championship teams.

Building Competitive Depth Across the Roster

While individual stars matter, depth is what sustains and grows programs. Saturday's results highlighted UIndy's promising roster depth well beyond their impressive podium finish. Nine Greyhounds raced at Mississinewa, seven finished in the top 20, and every single athlete completed the race — a fantastic achievement for a team dominated by first-year athletes.

The class composition of the nine competitors breaks down clearly:

1 Graduate Student: Sydney Rhodehamel, offering leadership and race-day experience.
2 Juniors: Geraldine Vazquez and Nadia Beran, providing the competitive backbone.
6 Freshmen: Haley Uberta, Darby Cottrell, Heidi Bloomer, Chelsea Newton, Lilly Joseph, and Abby Poe.

About two-thirds of the team are freshmen — yet they still delivered scoring placements and impressive finishes across the board. Poe's top-five result already shows that newcomers can compete with the best. Targeted training drills can accelerate this kind of development significantly as the season progresses.

Successful collegiate programs invest in developing freshmen into veterans, and veterans into leaders. UIndy's roster structure effectively embodies this approach right now.

Back-to-Back Wins Against Key Rivals

It's essential to see the bigger picture, and Saturday's result is part of a larger narrative. Just the weekend before, UIndy hosted the Greyhound Splash & Dash, where both Trine University and Chicago State competed — and the Greyhounds finished ahead of both. Then at Mississinewa, the pattern held again.

Two weekends in a row. Two higher placements against the same rivals. This kind of consistency highlights a developing competitive identity. When a young program repeatedly beats the same opponents, it signals meaningful progress rather than isolated luck. In triathlon, where race conditions can vary greatly, consistent results against familiar opponents suggest that the athletes are building enduring fitness — not simply peaking for one event.

What This Runner-Up Finish Means for UIndy Triathlon

Programs are often evaluated by their potential, but a more telling metric — especially for emerging programs — is their trajectory. UIndy launched its triathlon program in 2024, finishing 7th at the Beaver County Tri Cup in Pennsylvania in their debut season. Fast forward two years, and the Greyhounds now trail only one of the most respected programs in NCAA Division III triathlon. The improvement is not marginal — it's steep and trending sharply upward.

What's fueling this growth?

Strategic recruitment: Attracting talented freshmen who contribute immediately is a serious challenge for any new program.
Veteran leadership: Vazquez and Rhodehamel offer competitive stability and daily mentorship.
Consistent coaching: Results like Saturday's emerge from a thoughtful training system that prepares athletes for diverse race conditions.
Team culture: Strong finishes on consecutive weekends reflect full commitment from the athletes — mentally and physically — to the season's demands.

Next on the schedule is the Beaver County Tri Cup in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. With a runner-up finish already secured this fall, expectations are high for a significantly improved outcome compared to two years ago.

The Bigger Picture: Collegiate Triathlon as a Development Pipeline

For triathlon fans watching the collegiate landscape, UIndy's progress signals a broader trend worth noting. Programs that invest in quality coaching, competitive race calendars, and deliberate roster building can dramatically accelerate the journey from startup to contender. For aspiring athletes contemplating a collegiate path, UIndy serves as a compelling example — a place where freshmen secure top finishes and contribute to overall team scoring from day one.

If you're a young athlete drawn to triathlon, environments like UIndy prove that competitive sport and personal growth can develop together inside collegiate athletics. The results at Mississinewa support that idea convincingly.

Key Takeaways

The Greyhounds earned runner-up status at the Mississinewa Collegiate Cup on September 12, 2026, finishing behind powerhouse North Central College in just their second race of the fall season.
Geraldine Vazquez (2nd, 1:07:24) and Abby Poe (5th, 1:09:54) led the way with exceptional performances that placed two UIndy athletes inside the top five of the individual standings.
Seven of the nine UIndy athletes finished in the top 20, showcasing depth of talent extending well beyond the team's top performers.
The Greyhounds defeated Trine and Chicago State for a second straight weekend, establishing consistent superiority over key regional rivals.
With approximately 67% of the competing roster as freshmen, UIndy's future potential looks brighter than even this remarkable result suggests.
Next stop: Beaver County Tri Cup in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania — where UIndy aims to improve on their 7th-place debut from 2024.