While many larger universities are disbanding sports teams because of the coronavirus pandemic, Wingate is adding one. In the fall of 2021, women’s triathlon will become Wingate’s 23rd intercollegiate sport.

“Providing an additional competitive opportunity for women has been a part of our strategic plan, and we believe the time is right to launch this growing sport,” says Steve Poston, University vice president and director of athletics. “We can’t wait to get started.”

In October, former Olympian Nick Radkewich was named the program’s first head coach.

The NCAA classifies women’s triathlon as an “emerging sport,” which means it does not have an official NCAA championship associated with it. But it’s growing fast, and Poston anticipates triathlon soon being added to the championship roster.

The initial launch of women's triathlon is made possible through a grant from the USA Triathlon Foundation. 

“USA Triathlon is proud to welcome Wingate University to the women’s NCAA triathlon family — especially at a time when colleges and universities nationwide are facing unique and significant challenges,” says USA Triathlon CEO Rocky Harris. “We commend the university and athletic leadership for maintaining their commitment to adding competitive opportunities for women at the varsity level, and we look forward to seeing the inaugural team on the race course next fall.”

Women’s triathlon is a fall sport, and the varsity season includes three regional qualifiers followed by the Women’s Collegiate Triathlon National Championships. Races are sprint distance, featuring an open-water 750-meter swim, draft-legal 20-kilometer cycling and a 5-kilometer run.

Wingate will become the 14th NCAA Division II school to offer triathlon. The Bulldogs join fellow South Atlantic Conference schools Queens and Lenoir-Rhyne, along with Conference Carolinas schools Belmont Abbey, King and Southern Wesleyan. There are eight NCAA Division I schools with varsity collegiate women’s triathlon and 14 NCAA Division II programs.

This is the first new sport at the university since 2014, when the Bulldogs added women’s lacrosse. Men’s and women’s track and field was added in 2013.