Tempe, Ariz. - It was a great day for the St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Triathlon team at the NCAA/USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championships, hosted by Arizona State University at Tempe Town Lake North Park.

Freshmen Tylor Brino-Dean and Chanelle Russell made the most of their opportunities, placing 40th and 60th respectively, in the Division II circuit on a beautiful afternoon in Tempe Arizona.

This year, the NCAA and USA Triathlon instituted a new format in which athletes were ranked from their regular season and regional performances. Triathletes were seperated into two heats with fellow competitors from Divisions I, II and III making up each heat.

Both Spartans had respectible swims and then showed their skills on the bike, making up a number of spots in the field. The hot desert sun made it difficult for all of the athletes competing, but Brino-Dean and Russell hung tough and became only the second and third STAC Triathletes in program history to finish the entire event.