WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The Gallaudet University women's triathlon team continued its strong start to the 2026 season Sunday at the Patriots Triathlon Festival, winning the team competition among the two NCAA programs competing at the Jamestown Settlement.

The Bison finished ahead of Hampton University in the NCAA team competition while competing in a larger collegiate field that also included club programs from the U.S. Naval Academy, University of Virginia and College of William & Mary. Gallaudet's depth proved to be the difference as five Bison finished among the top NCAA team competitors.

First year Mariska Dize (Port Richey, Fla.) led Gallaudet with a time of 1 hour, 30 minutes and 23 seconds (1:30:23). Dize completed the swim in 12:38, followed by a 41:52 bike split and a 30:44 run.

Fellow first year Priya Frank (Colorado Springs, Colo.) followed in 1:32:43, recording Gallaudet's fastest swim of the day at 12:04. Frank completed the bike in 42:05 before finishing the run in 31:54.

Sophomore Marcella Shular (Colorado Springs, Colo.) crossed the finish line in 1:33:21, just six seconds ahead of junior Alecia Miller (Litchfield, Ill.), who finished in 1:33:27. Shular posted Gallaudet's fastest run split at 27:04, while Miller completed the run in 27:53.

Sophomore Melany Salcedo Benavides (Woodbridge, Va.) rounded out Gallaudet's five scoring finishers in 1:34:24, posting splits of 14:43 in the swim, 43:08 on the bike and 30:33 in the run.

The Bison competed through persistent rain during the swim before conditions improved for the remainder of the race. The bike and run portions took place under cloudy but dry skies.

Gallaudet's depth continued beyond its five scoring finishers, with sophomore Melissa Eicher (Indianapolis, Ind.) finishing in 1:45:42, sophomore Adelle Patton (Puyallup, Wash.) in 1:51:43 and first year Jenna Callahan (Pocatello, Idaho) in 1:56:29.

UP NEXT
Gallaudet returns to action next Sunday, Sept. 20, at the Robious Landing Triathlon at Robious Landing Park in Midlothian, Va. The College Cup race is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.