Hildebrandt heads to Australia
By SARAH RYKOWSKI
Sports Writer
Gretchen Hildebrant is ready to represent Saint Mary's in the land down under. Hildebrandt, assistant athletic director and head women's swim coach will participate in the World Amateur Triathlon Championships in Perth, Australia next week.
"It's the first time she's gone to a competition at this level," said Lynn Kachmarik, director of athletics and recreation for Saint Mary's.
The race begins on Sunday, April 30, and includes a 1.5K swim, 40K bike race and a 10K run. Hildebrandt will leave South Bend on April 23 to fly to the competition.
Hildebrandt qualified for the Championships by competing in several national meets over the past year. She has been training since early October.
"I've gone to the national competitions before," Hildebrandt said. "I went to a national spring championship in New Jersey and placed fifth in my age group."
Hildebrandt, at 24, will compete in the 20 to 24-year-old age bracket in the Championships as she has done since she began competing in triathlons in May of last year.
"I never thought about triathlons until the middle of last year, when a friend suggested them to me," Hildebrandt said. "Since I've been running and swimming on my own, I thought I would try it. I did seven races altogether last year."
"To me [Hildebrandt's commitment to athletics] is a great message to the women at Saint Mary's," Kachmarik said. "She's really been training heavily since she got here."
"[Triathlons] offer an enjoyable way to keep active and exercise," Hildebrandt said. "Triathlons are taking a huge step because they're in the Olympics this year."
Hildebrandt recently teamed with several Saint Mary's athletes to form a triathlon club. The co-presidents are juniors Colleen Sullivan, Lori Schulte and Jeanne Tierney and freshman Emily Nihill. The members run, swim and bike together each week.
Hildebrandt hopes to use the championships as an opportunity to recruit for the College while overseas.
"I think it is really important to get the word out about Saint Mary's, especially to Australia," Hildebrandt said. "A lot of the students there look to the United States for education, and if I have the means to [recruit] I might as well promote Saint Mary's while I'm down there."
All Sports Stories for Thursday, April 20, 2000
