TUCSON, Arizona — It’s been 11 months since head coach Wes Johnson took a celebratory Powerade bath right after Arizona triathlon claimed its second consecutive national championship.
The core of that championship team is back this season—and looking even better.Fifth-year senior Molly Lakustiak set an early tone with a victory at last week’s Desert’s Edge Collegiate Cup in Colorado, her first individual NCAA race win.
“It meant a lot. I haven’t won an NCAA race before so it was good to feel good,” Lakustiak said. “And just going into this year, it was a good way to kick it off.”
The program continues to build momentum on multiple fronts. On this day at the Hillenbrand Aquatic Center, individual national champion Kelly Wetteleand and head coach Wes Johnson were with the USA National Team. Arizona has also established itself as a pipeline for elite international talent, including freshman Amit Ben Adiva.
“The team is so good. 2x NCAA champion. I figured it was the best option I can find,” Ben Adiva said.This Saturday, the Wildcats host rival Arizona State in the Cactus Collegiate Cup—a rematch of last year’s event that Arizona won. The dual offers a rare home atmosphere for the team...