HOT SPRINGS, S.D. – Kicking off the 2022 season on Saturday at Angostura Recreation Area, the Montana State University Billings women's triathlon team competed in the Southern Hills Triathlon.
 
Freshman Alahna Lien was MSUB's top finisher in her first collegiate event, taking 26th place among the 29 competitors who finished the race. Lien posted a composite time of 1:09:23.2 to kick off her MSUB career. "Alahna had a good rust buster, and this was really good competition for us to see in our first race out," said MSUB head coach Kevin Bjerke. "By design we took the bike course relatively cautiously, especially with some unexpected new chip seal down on the road. With the next race having a lot of flat, straight stretches of road for the bike, I think she'll put together a much better bike. Despite being cautious, she had a very solid run on the end and it was a great start to her collegiate racing career."
 
Veteran Madisan Chavez began her fourth year in the program with a mark of 1:10:31.1 to finish the event in 28th place. "Madi had a pretty solid overall race, and put together three really good legs," said Bjerke. "Especially after coming off a little break from her class trip to Peru towards the end of the summer. Now that she's got a race under her belt I'm excited to see her build more momentum."
 
Freya McKinley won the race cruising across the finish line in 52:07.3 to hold off her closest competitor by nearly 90 seconds.
 
NEXT UP: The Yellowjackets are back in action on Sept. 24, with the Oktoberfest Triathlon set to take place at Union Reservoir in Longmont, Colo.