Liberty's men's and women's triathlon teams with Head Coach Heather Gollnick (left) and Assistant Coaches Todd Gollnick and David McCurdy (right) at the USA TRI Cup finish line on Saturday on the Lanier Islands in Georgia (Photos by Molly Ramberg)
Triathletes race to fast finishes at Mid-Atlantic Draft-Legal Championships
10/22/2026 1:35:00 PM | Triathlon
Share:
After traveling to Tennessee for an Olympic Distance event on Oct. 10, the Flames and Lady Flames exceled in the sprint-distance USA TRI Cup races on the Lanier Islands in Georgia.
Liberty University's men's and women's triathlon teams posted strong showings in their final races of the fall semester this past weekend, competing in the Mid-Atlantic Conference Draft-Legal Championships in Buford, Ga., that started with a 750-meter swim on Lake Lanier.
The Lady Flames placed four individuals in the top 10 with another five finishing in the top 17 out of a field of 31 in the women's USA TRI Cup.
"Our women stepped up in a big way at Lake Lanier," Liberty Head Coach Heather Gollnick said. "It was an incredible display of grit, determination, and teamwork. I couldn't be prouder of how these ladies competed, supported one another, and represented Liberty University."
Freshman Makenzie Ross was the first to finish, in 1 hour, 9 minutes, 57 seconds, placing her fifth overall behind Queens University of Charlotte's first-place performance by Clare Dasso (1:04:05) and three non-collegiate triathletes.
Ross was followed closely by teammates Jaden Lucas (1:12:30.15), a sophomore, and seniors Kendall Leininger (1:12:30.16) and Natalie Kingston (1:12:44).
Â
Lady Flames Makenzie Ross (second), Jaden Lucas (third), Kendall Leininger (fourth, right), and Natalie Kingston (fifth, left) landed on the podium for the women's USA TRI Cup, the Mid-Atlantic Conference Draft-Legal Championships, Saturday in Buford, Ga.
"It was a very competitive race for our crew," Lucas said. "Among teammates, we had a lot of friendly competition, which is something that doesn't normally happen at these races. That is a really important (factor), as we grow spiritually on the team and grow together in practices, and push each other out on the course."
Many of the Lady Flames finished the swim at around the same time and were able to draft off each other during the 20-kilometer cycling stage and 5K run.
"We were able to pull each other on the bike to have better races and practice our communication skills as we understand how each other works," Lucas said. "Makenzie Ross was working with some of the top triathletes in the race along with Kendall (Leininger). I was drafting off Natalie Kingston on the uphill climbs, and she would draft off of me on the downhills. We were able to work together on all three phases."
"At the finish line, our teammates were cheering us on to perform to the best of our abilities to glorify God and represent Liberty University the best that we could," Lucas said. "It was a great finish to our season. There was a lot of positivity coming out of the weekend, with plenty of personal best times, so we met our goals going into the offseason as we shift our focus to the spring season and start working toward (USA Triathlon Collegiate) Nationals," set for April 2-3 in Gulfport, Miss.
Meanwhile, the Flames had four triathletes finish in the top 50 out of 71 entered in the USA TRI Cup men's race, paced by sophomore Evan Bittner (27th in 1:02:16).
"I swam better than I had over the spring and summer," said Bittner, who completed the swim in 10:12, the cycling stage in 32:02, and the run in 17:58. "My swim and run hit my time and pace goals. If I had biked to my potential, I would have had a much better trace. I was a little unprepared for the toughness of the course, which was very hilly and challenging."
Bittner had finished first at the Atomic Olympic-distance Triathlon on Oct. 10 in Lenoir City, Tenn., completing that 1,500-meter swim, 40K bike trek, and 10K run through a torrential downpour in 2:13:51.
"We had a lot of raw athletes come in this year," Bittner said. "It is good to see that talent that we can hopefully develop into really fast triathletes in the future. It might take a year or two to build that base, getting the right foundation."
Bittner did not enter the Draft-Legal race at the USA National Championships last spring, but is on pace to represent the Flames in that event, possibly with senior Alex Schimmel, who is expected to return from injury in the spring semester.
"Alex would usually come out of the water with me, and other guys are working at the swim and improving," Bittner said. "Competing at the (March 5-7) Clermont ((Fla.) Draft-Legal Challenge) before nationals will get me into the right draft-legal shape that I need to be in."
After Thanksgiving, the Flames and Lady Flames are scheduled to begin a 12-13-week training block to get ready for Clermont, where more than half of the team will compete in an Olympic-distance race on March 7. That will be followed by a five-week training block in preparation for nationals.
"In the offseason, we will be focusing a lot on our swimming abilities, which is where we're lacking the most," Lucas said. "We will be starting more swimming practices in the pool at the Liberty Natatorium on Mondays, and at LaHaye (Aquatic Center) on Wednesday or Fridays, as well as riding on indoor cycling trainers (in the Liberty Triathlon Studio at Candlers Station) and running, weather permitting, on the (Osborne Stadium) track or (Liberty) Indoor Track Complex."
