WASHINGTON – The Gallaudet University women's triathlon team made history Sunday morning as the Bison hosted their first home competition in program history and defeated Eastern Mennonite University, 39-32, in the Bison Aquabike Race on the Gallaudet campus.

Gallaudet, ranked No. 8 in the 2026 College Triathlon Coaches Association (CTCA) preseason coaches poll for Division III programs, placed two first-year triathletes among the top three overall. First year Mariska Dize (Port Richey, Fla.) finished second in 30 minutes, 18 seconds, while fellow first year Priya Frank (Colorado Springs, Colo.) followed just four seconds later in third place (30:22). The pair made their collegiate triathlon debuts Sunday.

Eastern Mennonite senior Zoe Clymer won the race in 29:12 as the No. 7 Royals took first place overall, but Gallaudet's depth helped the Bison come away with the seven-point team victory.

"I am very proud of my student-athletes' performance overall, especially from two first-year triathletes, Mariska Dize and Priya Frank, who finished second and third, respectively, and can only improve from today's performance," said Gallaudet coach Brian Bennett.
 
Gallaudet sophomore Melany Salcedo Benavides (Woodbridge, Va.) was the third Bison to cross the finish line as she placed sixth overall in 33:00. Junior Alecia Miller (Litchfield, Ill.), the only Bison in her third year with the program, followed in seventh place (33:30). First-year Valerie Salgado (Lawrence, Mass.) rounded out Gallaudet's five scorers in eighth place (36:30).
Sophomore Adelle Patton (Puyallup, Wash.) placed ninth (37:00), first year Jenna Callahan (Pocatello, Idaho) was 11th (39:00) and sophomore Marcella Shular (Colorado Springs, Colo.) followed in 12th (39:05) to complete Gallaudet's contingent.

EMU's other participants included Sarah Wheeler in fourth place (31:53), Anna Rondema in fifth (32:22) and Emilee White in 10th (37:32).

Sunday's event was modified from its originally scheduled super sprint triathlon to an Aquabike format. Under sunny and hot conditions, competitors began the race in the Gallaudet swimming pool with two athletes sharing each lane for the 500-yard swim. After completing 20 laps, the triathletes exited the pool and made their way to the transition area to get their bicycles before beginning the six-mile bike portion through campus.

Official times stopped at the completion of the bike portion. Participants were then given the option to complete a one-mile run, four laps around the Thomas O. Berg Track. Most of the field participated in the optional run, which was not timed and did not count toward the official results.

Hosting the first home event required several temporary changes around campus to accommodate the cycling course. Lincoln Circle was converted to one-way traffic during the biking portion of the competition, while volunteers were stationed at key locations throughout the course to direct cyclists and assist with any issues.

"Hosting on campus for the first time was an absolute joy, and I couldn't be more grateful to all of our volunteers and athletics department staff, including and most especially my assistant coaching staff, who helped make this possible," said Bennett. "It is my hope that we are able to host a home meet for many more years to come."

The historic home event comes during Gallaudet's third season as a varsity women's triathlon program, which began competition in 2024.


The Gallaudet women's triathlon team poses for a group photo following the Bison Aquabike Race on the Gallaudet University campus.

Also see:

• Bison Aquabike Race Results (PDF)

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will make its third straight appearance at the Patriots Triathlon Festival next Sunday, Sept. 13, in Williamsburg, Va. The race is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. The Bison finished third at the event last season after placing fourth there during their inaugural 2024 campaign.
 

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