Triathlon is fast-growing, endurance sport and Olympic event that consists of swimming, cycling, and running. With the roots of the sport originating in the San Diego running, cycling and swimming communities, UC San Diego is uniquely positioned at one of the centers of the triathlon world and has some of the best climate and terrain for training year round.

The UC San Diego Triathlon Team was founded in 1998 and has grown to more than 70 athletes. The team competes in Sprint and Olympic-distance races throughout the spring and summer against other schools in the West Coast Collegiate Triathlon Conference (WCCTC), such as Stanford, UC Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara, and Cal Poly, San Luis Obsipo. The UCSD team also sends athletes to compete at the Collegiate Nationals race each year.

Historically, the UCSD Tritons have been extremely successful, both within the WCCTC and also at the national level. In 2025 the Tritons won the WCCTC Conference Championships in Arroyo Grande, and placed 9th nationally. In 2008, UCSD's women's team won the National Collegiate Team title, with Amanda Felder winning the overall women's race. In 2005, UCSD won both the individual men's and women's National Collegiate Championship with Brendan O'Brien and Amanda Felders winning their respective races.

Besides racing in collegiate events, members of the UCSD Triathlon Team have had strong showings at a wide range of triathlon events. In addition to placing well in various Sprint and Olympic-distance races, UCSD athletes have also raced in Half Ironman and Ironman events, with some members even qualifying for coveted spots to Ironman Hawaii. In 2025, three athletes competed at the Oceanside 70.3, with Siwen Cui placing fi rst in her age group and qualifying for the World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain.

In addition to competing at the highest levels, the UCSD Triathlon Team has sought to make the sport of triathlon more accessible to the student body at large. With that goal in mind, the team accepts all interested students regardless of athletic background. Furthermore, with the help of the Triathlon Club of San Diego, the team hosts their own sprint distance race, the Tritonman Triathlon, each year at Fiesta Island in Mission Bay. The race serves as the team's main fund raiser for the year and has attracted numerous students from UCSD and many collegiate teams from the WCCTC, as well as top local pros and amateur triathletes.

2025-2026 I Race Recaps

3/27-28/26 - USAT Collegiate Club National Championships

Sixteen athletes traveled to Gulfport, Mississippi to compete at Nationals. The women’s team earned an impressive 6th-place finish in the nation, with Shaina King and Siwen (Wendy) Cui contributing scoring performances in both the draft-legal and Olympic distance races. Lexie Hammond and Greta Feague also finished in scoring positions in the Olympic distance event. Individually, Wendy placed 5th in the Olympic distance and 10th in the draft-legal race, while Shaina finished 19th in the Olympic distance and 17th in draft-legal.

The men’s team placed 33rd overall, contributing to an 18th-place finish for the combined team. Noah Snider represented the men’s team in the draft-legal race, and the Mixed Team Relay squad—consisting of Noah Snider, Shaina King, Siwen (Wendy) Cui, and Wesley Bantugan—secured a 17th-place finish.

Team photo of green grass in front of the lake

3/7/26 - March Triathlon Series

The team brought 29 racers up to San Luis Obispo for their olympic distance conference race this year! Siwen Cui finished in 4th for women, and the women's team came in 3rd place overall. The team is looking forward to their three week break with no races before nationals!

2/28/26 - Tritonman 2026

The team hosted another successful Tritonman with 149 draft legal racers on Saturday and 387 classic racers on Sunday! The race directors Shaina King and Kieran Stanko did an incredible job planning and pulling off the event this year. There were around 50 volunteers from the team and friends and family show up at 4am on both days to set up for the event. This year had incredibly warm weather, making the race feel like a summer event despite its reputation for a chilly race morning.

2/8/26 - UCSB Kendra's Race

The Tritons finally had the opportunity to race at University of California, Santa Barbara after the original date was postponed due to torrential downpours earlier in the season. With clear skies and renewed energy, the team was eager to make the most of the long-awaited competition. A total of 28 athletes represented University of California, San Diego, joined by several supportive teammates who came to cheer from the sidelines and help create an encouraging team atmosphere.

UCSD’s women’s team delivered an outstanding performance, finishing first overall. Siwen (Wendy) Cui led the way with an impressive first-place finish, while Shaina King secured third, contributing valuable points to the team’s dominant result. The men’s team also had a strong showing, earning second place overall after a series of competitive races.

The weather turned out to be beautiful—especially for January—providing ideal racing conditions and a welcome change from the earlier storms. With this regatta setting a positive tone for the season, the Tritons are excited to build momentum as they continue training and preparing for upcoming conference championships and nationals.

11/23/25 - UCSD Triton Invite

Ten SDSU athletes and one UCSD alumni joined 30 of our athletes at Glorietta Bay Park, where we held the first UCSD Triton Invite which was a sprint triathlon format. Due to the poor water quality from the rain, the swim was optional. Overall, it was a successful and fun race! Eight of our own athletes raced again in a mixed team relay (MTR) to practice hand-offs as well as see who could potentially make the MTR team for Nationals 2026.

Ten SDSU athletes and one UCSD alumnus joined 30 UCSD athletes at Glorietta Bay Park for the inaugural UCSD Triton Invite, a sprint-distance triathlon designed to provide early-season racing experience and intercollegiate collaboration. The event marked an exciting milestone for the program, showcasing growing interest from neighboring schools and strengthening ties within the Southern California triathlon community.

The race followed a traditional sprint triathlon format; however, due to poor water quality following recent rain, the swim portion was made optional to ensure athlete safety. Participants were still given the opportunity to complete the swim if desired, while others focused on the bike and run segments. Despite the modified format, the event ran smoothly and maintained a competitive yet welcoming atmosphere. Athletes from both programs demonstrated strong performances, camaraderie, and enthusiasm throughout the morning.

Following the main race, eight UCSD athletes competed again in a mixed team relay (MTR), using the opportunity to practice transitions, refine hand-offs, and evaluate potential relay combinations for the 2026 Collegiate Club Nationals. The relay added an exciting, fast-paced element to the day and allowed coaches and officers to observe developing talent under race conditions.

Overall, the first UCSD Triton Invite was a successful, engaging, and enjoyable event, setting a strong foundation for future iterations and helping athletes build confidence and connection early in the season.

11/7-9/25 - Triathlon Team Bike Camp

This year’s bike camp saw the largest turnout in program history, with 28 athletes participating. On Saturday, all athletes completed a challenging ride, with four different difficulty options available to accommodate every experience level. Many participants achieved personal milestones, including longest distance ridden or greatest elevation gain, and most of the team successfully completed the extremely demanding Montezuma climb.

Sunday featured a team brick workout, providing athletes the opportunity to practice smooth bike-to-run transitions in preparation for future races. Despite hot and sunny conditions during the day, the evenings brought cool temperatures and crystal-clear skies, offering perfect conditions for stargazing. The weekend combined physical challenge with team-building, skill development, and memorable outdoor experiences, leaving athletes stronger, more confident, and well-prepared for upcoming events.

10/12/25 - Cal Poly Mustang Showdown 2025

The event was a fun and fast-paced multi-round super sprint, offering an exciting and challenging course for all participants. Several athletes advanced through the semi-final and final elimination rounds, with Kieran Stanko securing a spot in the men’s finals, and Shaina King and Greta Feague qualifying for the women’s finals.

The spectator-friendly, high-energy course created an exciting atmosphere, with teammates and supporters cheering enthusiastically for each participant. A number of new athletes also completed their first race with the team, marking an important milestone in their racing experience. Overall, the event highlighted both individual talent and team spirit, showcasing strong performances while providing valuable experience for athletes at all levels.

10/4/25 - UCLA Ironbruin 2025

The team opened its first race of the year with a strong showing, highlighted by a podium finish in the women’s collegiate division, where Shaina King secured 3rd place, along with four additional top-ten results. Despite having only one week of official practices, fifteen athletes competed, including two newcomers making their debut. The group demonstrated solid base fitness and showed clear potential for continued growth throughout the season.

The early performances reflected strong preparation and a focused mindset among both returning members and new athletes. Coaches noted significant improvements in technique compared to the end of the previous year. The event also provided valuable racing experience that will guide upcoming training cycles. Team chemistry appeared stronger than ever, contributing to confident and coordinated efforts on the course. With structured practices ahead, the squad is well-positioned to build momentum and elevate its performance in future competitions.

2024-2025 I Race Recaps

3/26/25 - 2025 USAT CCNC

Over the final weekend in March, Coach Zack and 16 members of the team went to Miami, Florida to compete at the USAT Collegiate Club National Championships. The weekend included a draft legal sprint race, with normal sprint distances, a mixed team relay, at shortened distance with two men and two women competing in a relay, along with an olympic distance triathlon.

The team performed well, with the team scoring 9th overall, with top 10 finish in the women’s draft legal race and two top 30 results in the women’s olympic race.

Siwen Cui - 10th (Draft Legal) 23rd (Olympic)

Shaina King - 24th (Olympic)

3/9/25 - MTS Regionals 2025

On Sunday, March 9th, Coach Zack and 36 members of the team traveled to Lake Lopez near San Luis Obispo for the Conference Championships at MTS Regionals. This race was the first olympic-distance race of the year, but had a shortened swim, with total distances of the standard sprint swim of 750 meters, a 24 mile bike, and a 6.2 mile or 10K run.

Our team performed very well among a large field, the women’s team secured 1st place in the team category, with the men also getting a very good 4th place. Our team secured 2nd place overall. The team also had two podium finishes, with Siwen Cui and Shaina King taking 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

2/9/25 - 2025 UCI Zot Trot

On Sunday, February 9th, 21 team members and Coach Zack went to the Zot Trot triathlon at UC Irvine. It was a reverse triathlon (in the order of run, bike, then swim) instead of the normal order.

The team performed very well, with multiple athletes in the top 10 for both the men’s and women’s races. Our team had three racers secure podiums across both sides, and had the top overall finish in both as well. It was an excellent showing for the team. The following men and women placed top 10 in their respective groups:

Siwen Cui - 1st

Dmitriy Major - 1st

Kieran Stanko - 2nd

Noah Snider - 5th

Alexis Hammond - 6th

Kalani Daniel - 6th

Avery Heid - 8th

Logan King - 9th

Heidi Ulrickson - 10th

1/25/25 - Tritonman

On Saturday, January 25th, four members of the UCSD Triathlon team competed in the UCSD Tritonman draft-legal race at Tecolote Shores. On Sunday, January 26th, the same four members, plus 10 additional members, competed in the classic race. Saturday’s draft-legal race had a cancelled swim, leading to a 1-mile run replacing the standard swim section. The classic race on Sunday kept to the normal sprint distance format.

UCSD Triathlon performed well, with multiple athletes finishing in the top ten in both days of racing. On the men’s side, Jacob Wolf and Dmitriy Major both finished in the top ten in the classic race. On the women’s side, Siwen Cui and Shaina King secured top-ten finishes over both days, with Shaina King achieving a third-place podium finish in the classic race. With another strong showing, the team is looking to continue its performance in the fall into the rest of the season.

11/10/24 - UCSB Kendra's Race

On Saturday, November 9th, 30 team members and Coach Zack traveled to UC Santa Barbara for Kendra's Triathlon. Twelve of the 30 athletes competed in their very first triathlon! The race was a sprint distance, consisting of an 800-yard swim, a 12.7-mile bike ride, and a 5K run.

Our team had a strong showing, with podium finishes on both the men's and women's sides. Dmitry Major led the men with a second-place finish, followed by Jacob Wolf in 5th and Jonas Bar-on in 10th, all securing top-ten spots. On the women’s side, Shaina King finished 2nd, and Swien Cui finished 10th in her very first race ever. With so many athletes completing their first race, we're excited to see all the progress they’ll make for the rest of the season.

10/12/24- 2024 Cal Poly Mustang Showdown

The Tritons traveled up to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for the inaugural Mustang Showdown where a new race format was introduced: the super sprint triathlon. UCSD sent four athletes through the first round to the finals: Dmitry Major and Jacob Wolf for the men and Shaina King and Greta Feague for the women. Another incredible performance from Shaina led her to a 3rd place finish while Dmitry earned 5th, Greta 7th, and Jacob 8th. The Triton’s are building up momentum with consistent top-tier performances and getting prepared for the season ahead.

Shaina King - 3rd

Dmitry Major - 5th

Greta Feague - 7th

Jacob Wolf - 8th

10/06/24 - The Tritons Have an Impressive Showing at Ironbruin

Thirteen athletes from the UCSD Triathlon team competed in the UCLA Ironbruin sprint triathlon on October 6th, 2024, held in San Dimas, California. The Tritons put up an impressive performance, securing 2nd place overall in both the men's and women's divisions. Dmitry Major and Shaina King led the charge for UCSD, earning podium finishes and setting a strong example for their teammates. The race served as an excellent early-season test for the team, highlighting their dedication and preparation.

With such a promising start, the team is setting the tone for the rest of the collegiate triathlon season. The results at Ironbruin show that UCSD is a strong contender for future races, with solid performances across the board. The team's cohesion and hard work were evident, and these early podiums could be a sign of more successes to come.

UCSD traveled up to San Dimas to compete in the Ironbruin sprint triathlon for their first meet of the school year. The Tritons came ready to compete earning 2nd place overall for both the Men’s and Women’s divisions with strong performances by Dmitry Major and Shaina King who both secured spots on the podium. This race was an excellent opportunity for the team to show their preparation and readiness for the season! They will definitely be a strong contender in future races through their teamwork and hard work.

2023-2024 I Race Recaps

3/23/24 - MTS Conference Recap

On March 22nd, 2 dozen athletes representing UCSD Triathlon embarked on a journey to race in San Louis Obispo at the infamous Lopez Lake. Here, we sought to conquer 1 of 2 for the season and for many, their first olympic distance triathlon. All the training we've put in over the last 6 months would be put to the test. Would our bodies hold up to the cold? to the distance? to the hills and rollers? We arrived at the lake camp grounds friday afternoon and set up our camp. We rested and relax until the next morning when we got straight to race mode. It was time to compete. All the athletes prepared their gear and bikes and walk on over to the lake, just 300meters away. We set up our transitions like any other race except it wasn't any other race. Our Coach, Zack, gave us pep talks, race strategies until the very last moment. The men were first, their wave going off at 8am. The women followed shortly after. It was a long 3 hours but everyone got through it alive. Once we bathed in our endorphins, we quickly rounded up and gathered around the podium where they announced top finishers and top teams. Soon afterward, we left for San Diego and for many students, off to spring break.

Joanna Coker for the women got 3rd place! Dmitriy Major for the men in 4th place. Team overall standings once all said and done: 4th place in the conference. A few flats and a crash on the bike but everyone made it out feeling proud of themselves.

3/3/24 - Treeathlon

On Sunday, March 3rd, the UC San Diego club triathlon team competed in their final regular season competition at Sanford’s Treeathlon. The Tritons had 23 athletes compete in the collegiate sprint race (which consisted of a 600-meter swim, a 20k bike, and a 5k run). We embarked on a long road trip to the bay on Friday and relaxed surrounded by the beautiful green hills of the SF Peninsula. On Sunday we raced at late morning. The rain had cleared up just in time for a wonderful, fast race. We then made the return trip back to SD and despite the exhaustive activities, our spirits were higher than the clouds.

Dmitriy Major placed 4th in the Collegiate Men’s division with a time of 1:00:28. Ella Say placed in the top 20th within the Collegiate Women’s division. The Tritons will compete in their conference championships on March 23rd and the national championships on April 13th and 14th.

TRIATHLON

TRITONMAN

NEWS AND RESULTS

Stay tuned for updates about upcoming events!