Montana State University Billings women's Triathlon Support Page
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Thank you for visiting our support page and for your investment in Yellowjacket triathlon. We are tremendously excited to be the first university in Montana to offer NCAA women’s triathlon, and one of only a handful of programs in the Western United States. The success of our program relies on a variety of factors, which includes support from loyal and passionate MSUB Yellowjacket supporters and alumni, the Billings and surrounding communities and businesses, and the greater endurance and triathlon community and enthusiasts.
NCAA Triathlon Background
Women’s collegiate NCAA triathlon was only recently adopted in 2014, but is growing rapidly. Triathlon is currently classified as an “emerging sport” by the NCAA. Emerging sports have 10 years to prove sustainability and can achieve “championship status” by sustaining 40 NCAA programs by the end of those 10 years. With around 30 programs already established, USAT is well on their way to achieving their 2024 championship status goal.
MSUB announced the
addition of triathlon as a varsity sport on September 10, 2018, and soon after
hired its first coach, Kevin Bjerke, to lead the new program. Athletic director Krista Montague is “proud to offer this growing and unique opportunity of a multi-sport future for female athletes. We are excited to be a trailblazer for women and help grow this sport.” Chancellor Dan Edelman echoed those statements saying, “our university strives to promote and emphasize opportunities for women, and the addition of women’s triathlon will help us achieve this goal. This sport empowers women to compete in an environment requiring multiple talents, just like in society.”
Program Needs
The sport of triathlon has both unique and universal needs that are inherent in every MSUB athletic program. A few unique needs include, for example, specific training equipment and apparel for all three disciplines (swim, bike, run), and further travel costs (due to lack of local or conference programs). A few specific examples of this include an underwater camera for swim technique development, and extra support for traveling to the NCAA Championships in Tempe, Arizona (typically covered by the NCAA, but not during triathlon’s “emerging sport” status). Universal needs include scholarship support and facility upgrades, to name a few.
So how can you help?
First, please let us know who you are, including if you have any specific questions or ways you would like to support, by clicking the below link. Support does not always require financial donations. Simply spreading the word about our program to area coaches, prospective student-athletes, or potential donors can go a long way, or volunteering for special team events.
The form available online here will also enroll you in our program's monthly newsletters, which will provide team updates, schedule changes, results, etc.
Scholarship Support
One of our program’s biggest needs is in the form of scholarship support. Current NCAA scholarship limits for women’s triathlon are five full-ride scholarships per program. MSUB triathlon scholarship funding is currently only at roughly 10 percent of the NCAA maximum. The majority of NCAA scholarships across the country rely heavily on donor funding, and we are no different here at MSUB.
There are several ways to contribute towards Yellowjacket scholarships. You can pool resources with other individuals or entities, create your own annual “named” scholarship ($500 minimum), or create an endowed scholarship ($10,000 minimum). For more information on these options, visit the
MSUB foundation website online here.
If you are ready to donate now,
use the link available online here. There are options to channel your donation directly to MSUB triathlon, and information on matching gifts offered by some local employers.
Become a Booster
Every donation makes a difference.
Visit the Yellowjacket Booster webpage online here to become a booster, which includes several perks and makes it possible for our teams to compete at the highest level with the necessary resources.
Thank you for your consideration and support! Again, even if it is not financial support, we would love to hear from you. Our goal is to provide not only the most competitive, but also the most welcoming atmosphere possible for our women’s triathlon program. Every supporter we have in our corner helps to foster that atmosphere for Yellowjacket triathlon!
