25th Annual TriGators Triathlon

Aug 22 / CATEGORY: Sports

Run, bike and swim. The TriGators club team can do it all. The 25th annual TriGators Triathlon occurred on March 24th right at their home base, the University of Florida.  In the past, the triathlon race consisted 250-yard swim at the Florida Pool, a 3.4-mile bike ride and a 1.1 mile run throughout campus finishing in front of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.  However, this was the first year that both the SuperSprint race and the Sprint triathlon were offered. The Sprint consisted of a 400-yard swim at the Florida Pool, a 10.2-mile bike ride and a 3.1 mile run through campus ending in front of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.  Around 500 people were in attendance between the participants in the race along with the help of over 70 volunteers from nine different sport clubs on campus. Alumni traveled from across the state to participate in the race on their old stomping grounds as well.

Dylan Beitel, race director and sponsorship coordinator, has hosted the event for two years. Tasks such as ordering medals and T-shirts to market the event and getting the correct permits were only some of the tasks Beitel took on to host the event.

“The planning started in April of 2018,” Beitel said. “We had to contact various departments in order to put on the race including Student Activities and Involvement, UFPD, UPD, RecSports and USA Triathlon.”

Beitel said this event alone helped the team fundraise over $15,000 for the TriGators Triathlon Club.

Eight members of the TriGators Triathlon team participated in the event. The team claimed the Overall Florida Collegiate Triathlon Conference Omnium Championship.

Charlie Le Grand, race director, said the team enjoys watching everyone give their best effort and really racing as hard as they can.“My favorite part was watching my dad and brother finish their first ever triathlon at the one I organized,” Le Grand said.

Although Charlie and Dylan were the race directors, Beitel said it took the entire team’s efforts that helped them put on this event year in and year out.

“Planning for the 2020 race has already began and we are looking forward to it being even larger and better,” Beitel said.

Written by: Sydney Dishman

Sport Club Intern

For More Information

Visit the Sport Club’s UF student organization profile for officer contact information and related links.

TRIATHLON