LONGMONT, Colo.–South Dakota's freshmen trio of triathletes led the Coyotes to a runner-up performance at Sunday morning's West Regional Qualifier held at Longmont's Union Reservoir.
 
A native of Dixon, Illinois, freshman Leah Drengenberg paced the Yotes with her fourth-place finish. Drengenberg completed the course in 1:02:38. She was the second athlete out of the water in 7:34 and tied for the fourth-fastest time on the bike course. Drengenberg was less than two minutes behind the race winner, Arizona State's Hannah Henry who completed the course in 1:00:42.
 
Two-time defending national champion Arizona State swept the first three spots on the board with Drengenberg breaking up their pack.
 
Freshman Sammy Whitting raced in a Coyote uniform for the first time, having missed the team's season opener for the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final. Whitting placed eighth overall on Sunday in 1:04:03. She had the fastest run by a Coyote on the day, completing the 5,000 meters in 20:55.
 
The Coyotes scoring trio was rounded out by freshman Payton Ryz with a time of 1:05:13 for 13th place.
 
Arizona State topped the team race with a perfect score of six points while South Dakota finished runner-up with 21 points. Other NCAA teams competing on Sunday were Wagner College, Black Hills State, Colorado Mesa, Northern Vermont and Daemen College. The top three finishers from each team count in the team score while the next four displace other teams.
 
Seniors Brook Benes and Kathleen Juffer also raced for the Coyotes. Benes finished 32nd in 1:10:48 while Juffer took 42nd in 1:17:19.
 
South Dakota next toes the line at the East Regional Qualifier on Oct. 20 in Huddleston, Virginia.
 
USAT West Regional Results
4. Leah Drengenberg (USD), 1:02:38
8. Sammy Whitting (USD), 1:04:03
13. Payton Ryz (USD), 1:05:13
32. Brook Benes (USD), 1:10:48
42. Kathleen Juffer (USD), 1:17:19