getting to know
THe collegiaTe
recruiTmenT program
By Lindsay Wyskowski
T
here is life after college athletics. agreed to work with the athletes pro bono cross country in 2005. He did three XTERRA
Led by USA Triathlon’s collegiate for at least one year. races between 2008 and 2009. He expressed
recruitment coordinator Barb interest in joining the program in June. After
Lindquist, the Collegiate Recruitment HigHligHT performances he did his swim benchmark test, it was clear
Program seeks out athletes who competed Though all seven athletes performed well he was wasting his swim potential in XTERRA
in college as swimmers or runners in hopes at Age Group Nationals, three in particular races. He began road biking a month before
of transforming them into elite triathletes. stood out for their successes. Nationals, placed 23rd overall, and had the
In the first year of the program, seven Lindsay Woodward graduated in the fastest run split (30:23). Van Ort rounded
athletes were identified as having potential spring from the University of Florida and out his season by competing in XTERRA
to compete on an Olympic stage someday, was referred to the program by her UF swim Nationals, finishing in eighth place, and
out of 70 athletes who expressed interest in coach, Gregg Troy. She began working with running a 2:23 at the Chicago Marathon, his
triathlons. More than half of those athletes USAT certified coach Jennifer Hutchinson first marathon.
competed in triathlons in 2009, some in their soon after she passed her 3k run test, and Sean Jefferson graduated from the
very first triathlon. completed her first triathlon in early July. University of Indiana and has been a
The seven athletes who were identified She placed second overall at Nationals and professional runner with Nike. He did his
as potential elite triathletes competed in turned in the fastest swim split (23:38). After first sprint triathlon in April, placing fourth
their first Nationals in Tuscaloosa, Ala. All Nationals, Lindsay raced locally in Florida and overall, and became part of the program one
seven completed benchmark tests and were won the Suncoast Sprint Triathlon. month later, completing his first Olympic
connected with local USA Triathlon certified Kaleb Van Ort graduated from Notre distance race one month before Nationals.
coaches, who, as part of the program, had Dame in 2006 and was an All-American in He had plans to compete in Indoor Track
86 USA TriAThlon winter 10
USATTriWinter10pgs50-90.indd 86 12/9/09 3:48:05 PM
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