Bronco triathletes finish in top three
By Chris Furnari
There are more athletes at Santa Clara than just those who wear the Bronco colors.
Lauren Verrilli and Alexandra Hagerty, both Santa Clara students, finished in the top three in the women's 19 and under division, along with Hagerty's younger sister, Christina, a future Bronco, at the Napa Valley Triathlon. Erin Davis, a 22-year-old alumna, also finished in the top three of the 20-24 year-old-age group, taking second.
Hagerty, Verrilli and Davis all completed the Napa Valley Triathlon on May 7, which consisted of a half-mile swim, a 14-mile bike and a four-mile run. Students Austin Woody and Will Syme also competed in the event, although neither finished near the top of the leader board.
As anybody who has ever done one will tell you, completing the strenuous training regiment for a triathlon is no easy feat.
"In the mornings, I usually swim anywhere from a half mile to a mile in the pool, and every day I run in the afternoons. Tuesdays and Thursdays I would try to do a track workout," said Verilli. "On the weekends, I try to get a 20 to 30 mile bike ride and a long run."
The event played host to nearly 750 triathletes, each venturing to Lake Berryessa to partake in the action.
Verrilli, currently a sophomore, experienced great success, as she completed the course in 1 hour and 37 minutes, finishing second overall among all female divisions and first in her age group.
For those who aren't knowledgeable about the sport, a triathlon combines three arduous endurance events.
It begins with a distance swim, then transitions to a lengthy bike ride and finishes with a run. Finding a training partner to stay motivated is one essential aspect of being competitive.
"It's hard to find someone that wants to train as much as I do. I have been doing a lot of swimming and running lately with Steve O'Brien in athletics," said Verrilli. "He used to run for Santa Clara and is training for a marathon, so it works out perfect. We just help each other keep going."
For Verrilli, the sprint distance works out perfectly for both her schedule and the amount of time she has for training. Sprint distance races, like the Napa Valley Triathlon, are much shorter than regular triathlons. Therefore, they tend to be much easier to train for.
Verrilli initially began competing in triathlons because she wanted to stay in good shape.
Freshman Jay Cadwell, like Verrilli, was a cross country runner in high school, and had the same goal. He realized, along with many other distance runners, that triathlons were the perfect way to stay in good physical condition.
"I initially got into triathlons because when track season ended, I wanted something else to keep me in shape other than just running," said Cadwell. "It gets boring. Sometimes so it's nice to be able to swim and train or bike and train at the same time."
Cadwell, a cross country and track athlete at Santa Clara, began competing in triathlons during his junior year in high school. He continues to attend competitions when he is not in season, and credits his stamina to his year-round training routine for triathlons.
Triathlons have been increasing in popularity over the last decade as more Americans are now concerned with health and body image.
In fact, Santa Clara has its own annual rendition of a triathlon in the form of the Iron Bronco. Students compete in this race as individuals or teams of three, and have two weeks to complete an iron man distance triathlon.
The event is growing, as this year saw 215 total participants.
"I think people want to feel healthier and better about themselves, and triathlons give them a way to accomplish that," said Cadwell.
Triathlons may be the way to go, especially if you want to get in shape. On top of that, you are certain to receive support from your fellow competitors.
"The triathlon community is really welcoming, and everyone who participates just really wants to see people do well," said Verelli. "I would encourage everyone to get involved."
Contact Chris Furnari at (408) 551-1918 or cfurnari@scu.edu