BUFORD, Ga. – The Gallaudet University women's triathlon team finished third among NCAA Division III programs Saturday at the Women's Collegiate Triathlon East Regional Championship held at Lake Lanier.

The Bison finished behind Division III East Regional champion Trine University and runner-up Warren Wilson College as three Gallaudet triathletes completed the course. The regional championship featured competitors from all three NCAA divisions.

Junior Alecia Miller (Litchfield, Ill.) led the Bison with a time of 1 hour, 36 minutes and 54 seconds (1:36:54). Miller finished 109th overall and 12th among Division III competitors. She completed the swim in 17:47, the bike portion in 47:25 and the run in 28:06.

Junior Melany Salcedo Benavides (Woodbridge, Va.) followed closely behind Miller in 111th place overall and 13th among Division III competitors with a time of 1:37:30. Salcedo Benavides recorded Gallaudet's fastest swim split of the day (15:56) and completed the bike in 49:19 before finishing the run in 28:06.

Sophomore Melissa Eicher (Indianapolis, Ind.) rounded out the Bison contingent in 114th place overall and 15th among Division III competitors with a time of 1:43:25. Eicher completed the swim in 19:57, followed by a 49:31 bike split and a 30:12 run.

Trine's Tessa Szymanski was the top Division III finisher, placing 57th overall in 1:13:48. Trine had five triathletes finish among the top six Division III competitors.

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will await qualification announcements for the Women's Collegiate Triathlon National Championships, scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 8, at Tempe Town Lake North Park in Tempe, Ariz. The championship is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m.