So to be more *accurate* it's not the NCAA Championships *yet*. I think the official name of it currently is Women's Triathlon National Championship (and we can't use NCAA logo *officially* even though sometimes I'll even call it "NCAA Tri" Champs) You can't name it an "NCAA" championship until it becomes an actual championship status sport (of which the NCAA is then obvious the "host"). It's also why at the current status, the sport can kinda have it's championship setup however it wants. In '22 it was 3 waves with each wave being D1 / D2 / D3 all separated. This year because we are so close to being moved to NCAA status, it was done as a 2 wave event. 1st wave was the "qualifiers" who were from any Division (obviously the more D1 talented teams were able to qualify more D1 teams), and the 2nd wave was the "everyone else". Now at NCAA Champs, they will only run 1 wave, there's no "participation" trophy wave; they aint in the business of paying for all that travel.
When the NCAA takes it over and it's an official NCAA Championship, there are no divisions, until each divisions has apprx 30 schools to then have it's own division championship. Thus this year it was reasoned we need to be ready for that and understand *this* is the format they are going to use from this point forward, so might as well get used to it. Thus why wave 1 was the "qualified" wave and wave 2 was basically the non-qualified wave (it also helps cover the costs as currently "we" are footing the bill; once it becomes ncaa, NCAA covers the championship costs- location costs, travel costs, all costs associated).
Obviously in the early years the overwhelming majoirty of D3 schools will never make it to NCAA championship once it's full status sport. There's talks of having an "Coaches Association" National championship, in which case the coaches group can basically "name" D2/D3 "coaches association" natonal championships. It won't obviously hold the same weight as NCAA title, and some AD/s'Prez aren't going to pay for travel for that "non official" title, but it's atleast the alternative. Within that format, essentially NCAA Regionals will be the final event for most schools (similiar to XC right now where overwhelming majority of teams end their season at NCAA postseason regional site).
The format will likely be ~70-90 racers (closer to ITU/usat JE cup race limits); So roughly 8-10 teams of 7 + 15-20 "individuals".
Brooks Doughtie, M.S.
Exercise Physiology
-USAT Level II
When the NCAA takes it over and it's an official NCAA Championship, there are no divisions, until each divisions has apprx 30 schools to then have it's own division championship. Thus this year it was reasoned we need to be ready for that and understand *this* is the format they are going to use from this point forward, so might as well get used to it. Thus why wave 1 was the "qualified" wave and wave 2 was basically the non-qualified wave (it also helps cover the costs as currently "we" are footing the bill; once it becomes ncaa, NCAA covers the championship costs- location costs, travel costs, all costs associated).
Obviously in the early years the overwhelming majoirty of D3 schools will never make it to NCAA championship once it's full status sport. There's talks of having an "Coaches Association" National championship, in which case the coaches group can basically "name" D2/D3 "coaches association" natonal championships. It won't obviously hold the same weight as NCAA title, and some AD/s'Prez aren't going to pay for travel for that "non official" title, but it's atleast the alternative. Within that format, essentially NCAA Regionals will be the final event for most schools (similiar to XC right now where overwhelming majority of teams end their season at NCAA postseason regional site).
The format will likely be ~70-90 racers (closer to ITU/usat JE cup race limits); So roughly 8-10 teams of 7 + 15-20 "individuals".
Brooks Doughtie, M.S.
Exercise Physiology
-USAT Level II
Last edited by:
B_Doughtie: Mar 3, 24 12:25