WINGATE, N.C. - The Lenoir-Rhyne women's triathlon team placed second in the inaugural Conference Carolinas Championship on Sunday. 

Winning the team title was Wingate with 201 points. The Bears were runners-up with 179 and Emmanuel finished third with 120. 

The format of these championships differed from the normal sprint triathlon collegiate teams normally compete in. Every individual competed in heats, with the top 12 heat times qualifying for the A final, the next 12 in the B final, and so on and so forth. The course featured a 300 yard swim, 8k bike, and a 1.5 mile run. 

Lenoir-Rhyne had four individuals qualify for the A final and five in the B. The Bears were led by sophomore Agathe Claude, who finished with the fastest bike time of the final and placed third overall with a time of 24:28.3. Reigning national champion Zoila Sicilia placed sixth with a time of 24:54.5, and her run time of 7:11 was the fastest in the final by 14 seconds. The third finisher for LR was Isis Gaskin, who was the top qualifier in the heats and finished with an overall time of 25:41.5, good enough for ninth. Mariana Quiroga Giraldo won the B final and placed 10th overall with a 25:54.3. 

Lenoir-Rhyne Finishers:
3. Agathe Claude (A) - 24:28.3 / 1st Team All-Conference
6. Zoila Sicilia (A) - 24:54.5 / 1st Team All-Conference
9. Isis Gaskin (A) - 25:41.5 / 2nd Team All-Conference
10. Mariana Quiroga Giraldo (B) - 25:54.3 / 2nd Team All-Conference
11. Emilia Dabadie (A) - 25:55.5 / 2nd Team All-Conference
12. Emma Leary (B) - 25:56.0 / 2nd Team All-Conference
14. Eva Cronin (B) - 26:14.6 / 3rd Team All-Conference
20. Ana Brown (B) - 26:54.5 / 3rd Team All-Conference
22. Alex Linden (B) - 27:02.7

The Bears next competition will be on Saturday, October 17, when they take part in the East Regionals at Lake Lanier Park in Georgia. Following the regionals, the team will travel to Mesa, Arizona, to compete in nationals on Sunday, November 8.