When Wes Johnson became head coach of the Arizona women’s triathlon program, he envisioned a day when the UA would host an on-campus meet.
That vision came true Saturday, and the result was all that Johnson could have imagined and then some.
Arizona defeated rival ASU Saturday morning at the Duel in the Desert meet morning in front of a couple hundred fans and students.
“I’m pretty sure there’s never been something like in the history of the sport in the whole world for a collegiate setting,” said Johnson.
“It’s usually Olympics and stuff like that, that’s what draws the crowds. We had it here on our home campus with the Arizona-ASU rivalry. I just couldn’t be more happy with how it all turned out.”
Arizona All-American Kelly Lyn Wetteland won the individual competition, which included a 400-meter swim, a 9.4-kilometer bike ride and a 2.58-km run. Wetteland led the field with a time of 29 minutes, 43.76 seconds, while Arizona’s Margareta Vrablova finished runner up at 29:59.30.
Arizona won the team event and also took first in the relay event.
The Duel in the Desert featured the top two programs in the growing sport of women’s triathlon. ASU entered the competition ranked No. 1 with Arizona No. 2. The Wildcats are the reigning national champions. ASU had won the previous seven national titles.
“It’s so powerful to have ASU here close by,” said Johnson, who is in year two of leading the Arizona program. “It’s so much fun. That’s what makes the sport so special. Triathlon in the NCAA needs more of this. It needs the rivalries.”
Saturday’s competition was set up different than most collegiate triathlons. The swimming portion was held at Arizona’s Hillenbrand Aquatic Center rather than an open water swim. From there, competitors cycled around part the UA campus and then ran around the mall.
Arizona’s Wetteland was in a class of her own. Wetteland, the 2024 USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championship runner-up, has won all three races she’s competed in this season.
“I think it’s really fun because it’s so fast and furious,” said Wetteland. “There’s just so much technical aspects of racing on this course, so it really suited our team well.”
Arizona’s Ellison Wolfe took fifth, followed by Ruth Pardy in eighth, Mia Wentzy in ninth and Molly Lakustiak in 10th.
Johnson said the team could feel the support of the home crowd, something they’d never experienced before as triathletes.
“Unbelievable,” said Johnson. “Our sport is a younger sport, especially in the NCAA, so it’s not something we’re used to. So when they see that it’s kind of mind-blowing for them. I think that drove them every second of the race, especially in the hardest moments. How could you not with all the support and all the cheers? That exceeded expectations, honestly.”
With a convincing win over ASU behind them, the Wildcats will turn their attention towards the postseason. Arizona competes in the NCAA West National Qualifier in Fort Worth, Texas on Oct. 26, then will take part in the USA Triathlon National Championship on Nov. 8 in Tempe.
Arizona is all in on winning a second consecutive national title, but Saturday’s meet will go down as the heartfelt race of any this season.
“I love Tucson and the whole community,” said Wetteland, “so to see our fellow student-athletes and have my parents here, it’s what makes it kind of a family affair.”
