Preview: Triathlon Set For National Championships

Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University triathlon team wraps up its 2026 fall schedule Sunday at the Women's Collegiate Triathlon National Championships in Tempe, Arizona, with a program-record five Dukes set to compete in the A-Wave.

RACE INFO
Women's Collegiate Triathlon National Championships
Sunday, Nov. 8 | 10:30 a.m. MST (12:30 p.m. ET) | North Shore Beach (Tempe, Ariz.)
Duathlon format: run, bike, run, following a change due to water conditions.

THE DUKES
Roster | Schedule/Results

The Lineup: Duquesne will send five athletes to the A-Wave, the most in program history: Daria Ermolova, Isabella Fernández Aguirre, Catherine Staley, Robyn Hunt and Vivien Mattice. Rachele Lavagno and Mikele Jopson will compete in the B-Wave, with Kate Potashnik serving as an alternate.
Daria Dominating: Freshman Daria Ermolova, the 2026 East Regional Champion, continues to make history for the Duquesne triathlon program. She recently earned East Region Freshman of the Year honors and a spot on the Division I All-Region Team, becoming the first Duke to receive either distinction. Ermolova captured her third consecutive individual title to begin her collegiate career at the East Regional Championship, winning the 116-athlete field by more than 15 seconds. The Tula, Russia, native also claimed individual titles in her collegiate debut at the Duquesne Invitational and at the Navy Collegiate Cup. Ranked No. 30 nationally, Ermolova will lead the Dukes in the A-Wave.
Nationals Banquet Honors: Duquesne received several honors at Friday night's national championship banquet. Senior Robyn Hunt was named a finalist for the Alexander Award, which recognizes an NCAA women's triathlete for excellence in sport, academics and community service. Assistant coach Sean Battis received the College Triathlon Coaches Association (CTCA) Outstanding Service Award, while Ermolova was recognized for her East Region honors.
In the Rankings: Duquesne enters the national championship ranked No. 9 in the CTCA Division I rankings. Ermolova leads the Dukes at No. 30 nationally, followed by Catherine Staley (No. 56), Isabella Fernández Aguirre (No. 70), Kate Potashnik (No. 86) and Rachele Lavagno (No. 87).
Team Success: Duquesne recorded the best regional finish in program history at the East Regional Championship, placing third in the Division I team standings. Ermolova captured the individual title in 1:03:33.36, while all five of the Dukes' scorers finished among the top 34 in the 116-athlete field.
Nationals History: Duquesne finished ninth in the team standings in both 2024 and 2025. The program's top individual finish came last season, when Kadence Ribbink placed 31st. Hunt and Potashnik have competed in all three previous national championships for Duquesne. Mattice will make her third appearance, while Staley, Jopson and Lavagno are set for their second. Ermolova and Fernández Aguirre will make their national championship debuts. This year's championship will be the first modified to a duathlon format.
Senior Day: Duquesne celebrated its first-ever Senior Day at the Duquesne Invitational on Sept. 19, honoring six seniors, including five members of the program's inaugural roster in 2023.

FOLLOW THE DUKES
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Players Mentioned

Daria Ermolova

Isabella Fernández Aguirre

Robyn Hunt

Mikele Jopson

Rachele Lavagno

Vivien Mattice

Kate Potashnik

Kadence Ribbink

Catherine Staley

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