Daemen University Athletics

Western New York's Premier Division II Team

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Ashley Cheff, Nichole Geiger and Jenifer Igoe all made trips to the medal stand today

Women's Triathlon 3/12/2016 12:01:00 PM

Daemen Shines In Opening Event Of Spring

Cheff, Geiger, Igoe All Place High In Sunshine State Event

ORLANDO, Fla. - Ashley Cheff (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Falls) placed first among all female participants to pace the Daemen College women's triathlon team today in their opening event of the spring season, the Wildman Triathlon Festival held in and around Moss Park.

Cheff, a 5-foot-1 junior, completed today's race in just over one hour's time (1:04.40), more than 10 minutes better than her closest competitor, 42-year old Carol Heuser. The sprint triathlon race featured a 0.75 kilometer swim in Lake Mary Jane, a 20 kilometer bike ride and 2.8 mile run.

Also racing well for coach Jon Metz's team today were sophomores Nichole Geiger (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) and Jenifer Igoe (Oakfield, N.Y./Oakfield-Alabama). Geiger finished first, and Igoe second, among competitors in the 20-24 age bracket, and were separated at the finish line by just one-tenth of a second. Geiger came in at 1:17.43 to edge out her teammate Igoe (1:17.44).

The event today was Daemen's first since concluding their fall campaign with the Collegiate National Championships in Clermont, Fla. on November 7. The team is in its inaugural year of competiton which has been bolstered by a $70,000 grant from USA Triathlon to aide in the initial establishment of the program. USA Triathlon is the governing body for the sport, and has been the driving force behind the expansion of the sport into the intercollegiate ranks, leading to the sport gaining approval as an NCAA Emerging Sport for Women at the NCAA Convention in January of 2014. At present, Daemen is one of a handful of colleges and universities nationwide to sponsor the sport for intercollegiate competition.

The Wildcats continue their spring season with another trip to the Sunshine State on April 3 for the HITS Triathlon Series - Ocala event in Ocklawaha, Fla.

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Players Mentioned

Ashley Cheff: 5' 1"; Junior

Nichole Geiger: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Jenifer Igoe: 5' 0"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Ashley Cheff
: 5' 1"; Junior

Nichole Geiger
: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Jenifer Igoe
: 5' 0"; Sophomore