University Events staff members Stacey Poirier, Ann Osmond, and Carley Kokal (left to right) completed the race as a relay team. The annual Women's Tri celebrates women of all ages and walks of life.
President Roloff holds her granddaughter, Caroline, after completing her 11th triathlon. Roloff founded the Tri in 2007 during her tenure as YWCA Minneapolis CEO. At left is Ashley Arcel; at right, Beth Roloff, who took second in her age group for the Sprint.
Liz Axberg 鈥20, current student and Team Katie coordinator, completed her seventh Women's Tri this year, taking second place in her age group for the Sprint.
Alumna Kelli Brillhart 鈥02.
Team Katie member Ruth Chase cheers on other racers.
Biology professor Martha Phillips.
St. Kate's student Summer Schwintek 鈥22 (right).
Team Katie racer Julia Clark.
The YWCA Women鈥檚 Triathlon
Photos courtesy of YWCA Minneapolis. To see more, .
More than 90 St. Kate鈥檚 students, faculty, staff, alumnae, and family and friends registered to join the nearly 1,500 racers that thronged the Lake Nokomis area on August 11 to race the Women鈥檚 Triathlon.
The race, now in its 12th year, 鈥渃elebrates the strength in all women.鈥 Spectators saw women of all ages compete on a course that included a 500-yard swim, 15.5-mile bike, and 5-kilometer run.
President ReBecca Koenig Roloff 鈥76 founded the annual race in 2008 during her tenure as YWCA Minneapolis president and chief executive officer. This year marks her 11th triathlon that she completed. St. Kate鈥檚 has been a sponsor of the race since 2017, the Tri鈥檚 10th anniversary.
鈥淭he St. Kate鈥檚 and YWCA missions overlap beautifully in their emphasis on empowering women and girls,鈥 said Roloff. 鈥淢y heart bursts with pride when I see women age 11-81, all together, every shape, size, and background you can imagine, every participant helping the next one through.鈥
St. Kate鈥檚 involvement is more than a summer affair. Liz Axberg 鈥20, one of the Team Katie coordinators, organized team trainings and informational luncheons that brought racers together throughout the spring. Mobile bike shop , a 2019 Tri sponsor, visited campus in June to tune up bikes at a discounted price and make sure Team Katie鈥檚 gear was in tip-top shape. On race weekend, 24 St. Kate鈥檚 volunteers contributed 130 hours to support the event.
That community connection and 鈥渃ohesive Team Katie environment,鈥 as Axberg says, is what keeps her coming back year after year. The 2019 Women鈥檚 Tri was her seventh race.
鈥淭he YWCA triathlon is the most positive triathlon I go to,鈥 she says. 鈥淓verywhere you go, people are rooting for you 鈥 it鈥檚 really supportive and approachable.鈥
Register for the 2020 Women's Tri
Don鈥檛 wait to register for the 2020 YWCA Women鈥檚 Triathlon 鈥 spots fill up early in the year. Early bird pricing is available through December 31.
Are you a student? Register before January 1 with the code StKates20 and pay $49 instead of the usual $99.
Want to volunteer?
Cheer Team Katie on 鈥 email tri@stkate.edu for information on volunteering at the 2020 race.
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President Roloff leads St. Kate's cohort at 10th annual YWCA Women's Triathlon