PELLA – Trainer Jennie Hedrick-RozenbergCentral College’s fifth women’s triathlon team is both its largest and, she said, its most promising.

Honorable Mention All-American Grace Benson (Junior, Newton) leads the team that brings back all players from the 2023/24 season. Other returning athletes are Taylor Jones (Junior, Knoxville), Luci Laidlaw (Junior, Pella), Sophie Lunning (Senior, Mason City) And Sarah Smith (Sophomore, Monmouth, Illinois, Monmouth-Roseville)The Dutch bring in three newcomers and tennis Player Katelyn Freeman (Junior, Castle Rock, Colorado, Castle View) also joins the squad as a dual-sport athlete.

“Everyone is excited to bring the team together,” Hedrick-Rozenberg said. “And we’re excited to have a bigger team to see what that dynamic is like because we’ve never had a team this big.”

The larger team also leads to better training and competition within the team, she said.

“I know they are all well prepared,” Hedrick-Rozenberg said. “Having some new freshmen join the team motivates our older students to focus on their training this summer.”

The Dutch increased the difficulty of the program by opening with the Mount Shasta Tinman in Mount Shasta, California on September 1st.

“We decided to participate, and then the top six teams in Division I decided to participate as well,” Hedrick-Rozenberg said. “Not only will it be a fun and exciting race, but we’ll see the best athletes from all of the divisions that we’ll be competing against, and that will help take the intimidation factor out of the way.”