MIAMI, Fla. -- It was a day of firsts, as the Norse men's triathlon team competed in the program's first national championship at the USAT Collegiate Club National Champions at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Miami, Florida. A trio of athletes competed for the Norse on a mostly overcast day for the Olympic distance race that consisted of a 1500m swim, 40km bike, and 10km run.  Frederik Smal led the Norse completing the race in a time of 2:38:23 just ahead of his younger brother Johannes Smal who completed the race in a time of 2:41:13.  Senior Will Griffith rounded out the Norse athletes finishing his Norse career with a time of 2:50:42.

Coach Doughtie summed up the day, "I really wanted this to be a good experience and year for our young team, and I think this race and trip really put a great exclamation point on our men's inaugural season.  It was fun to watch Will finish his last race for our program and see how Fred and Johannes would complete their 1^st Olympic distance race.   This was a great 1^st national championship appearance, and I think this weekend has really put some excitement into our program and athletes moving forward."

THE BASICS
Results: Smal (Frederik) 392nd, Smal (Johannes) 416th, Griffith 500th
Race: USAT Collegiate Club National Championship
Location: Homestead-Miami Speedway- Miami, FL

 NOTABLES
-Frederik Smal completed the race in a overall time of 2:38:23, completing the 1500m swim in 25:54, T1 in 2:26, the 40km bike in 1:17:15, T2 in 1:27, and the 10km run in 51:23.
-Johannes Smal completed the race in a overall time of 2:41:13, completing the 1500m swim in 31:18, T1 in 2:35, the 40km bike in 1:19:04, T2 in 1:41, and the 10km run in 46:37.
-Will Griffith completed the race in a overall time of 2:50:42, completing the 1500m in 24:22, T1 in 2:43, the 40km bike in 1:30:12, T2 in 1:46, and the 10km run in 51:40.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The trio of Norse men triathlon raced at the Collegiate Club National Championship that had its largest field ever with over 1000 finishers completing the Olympic distance race.   With temperatures in the 70's and completely overcast sky,  the 2-lap lake swim had Griffith lead the Norse out of the water with a strong swim performance.  Smal (Frederik) led the Norse on the bike that had strong and gusty winds throughout the 40km 2-lap bike, that included 4 180* turns per lap.  Leading the Norse men on the run was Smal (Johannes) who kept the momentum going from a very solid bike leg to complete the 10km run running throughout the Nascar track, finishing on pit road.  

FOLLOW NKU NORSE TRIATHLON
Keep up to date on all things NKU Triathlon related information and content by following @nkunorsetri on Instagram or on Facebook at Northern Kentucky Triathlon and subscribe to the NKU Norse YouTube channel!