PONTEVEDRA, Spain – Naomi Ruff’s fourth place end led the U.S. U23 triathletes on Friday, Sept. 25, on the 2026 World Triathlon U23 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain.
Ruff completed the Olympic Distance race, consisting of a 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bike and 10-kilometer run, in 2 hours, 1 minute, and 23 seconds. France’s Ilona Hadhoum received the world title in 1:58:11, adopted by teammate Léa Houart in 1:59:11. Sidney Clement (CAN) rounded out the rostrum in third at 2:01:06.
After exiting the water in twelfth place, Ruff remained within the first chase pack all through the bike earlier than coming into the run course in twenty sixth. She delivered one of many quickest runs throughout the sphere, masking the 10k leg in 34:46. Ruff battled Nice Britain’s Bethany Cook dinner by way of the ultimate lap, in the end edging her on the end by seven seconds.
Ruff’s efficiency was the very best U.S. end of the day, with Religion Duncan putting twenty fourth, Kelly Wetteland putting thirtieth, Chelsea Webber putting thirty fifth and Pleasure Gill putting fortieth.
On the boys’s facet, Porter Middaugh led the U.S. in thirty fourth place, closing the race with a 30:12 10-kilometer run. Blake Bullard completed thirty ninth and Keller Norland positioned 52nd whereas persevering with to handle a foot harm. Carter Stuhlmacher, who exited the water first and entered the lead bike group, was unable to complete after retiring from the race as a consequence of sickness.
Ruff is a graduate and former NCAA Ladies’s Triathlete at Arizona State College, and her efficiency highlights the rising pathway from collegiate triathlon to worldwide competitors. Her Arizona State teammates, Clement, who positioned third, and Britney Brown (TRI), plus Wetteland, who competes for the College of Arizona, will return to the U.S. to compete within the 2026 NCAA Ladies’s Triathlon season this fall.
NCAA Ladies’s Triathlon is an rising NCAA championship sport that has quickly grown since being added in 2014. Immediately, triathlon is a varsity sport at schools and universities throughout all three NCAA divisions, with applications persevering with to increase nationwide. Via offering assets, funding, and assist to colleges, USA Triathlon, with important assist from the USA Triathlon Basis and the TriDave Legacy Belief, is working to advance girls’s triathlon towards full NCAA championship standing.
The U.S. Elite Ladies race on Saturday, Sept. 26, and the U.S. Elite Males look to rebound on Sunday, Sept. 27. Watch the motion on Triathlon Reside. Purchase your cross right here to subscribe.
Saturday, Sept. 26
Elite Ladies: Midday ET / 9 a.m. PT (6 p.m. native time)
Sunday, Sept. 27
Paratriathlon Combined Relay: 3 a.m. ET / Midnight PT (9 a.m. native time)
Junior/U23 Combined Relay: 5 a.m. ET / 2 a.m. PT (11 a.m. native time)
Elite Males: Midday ET / 9 a.m. PT (6 p.m. native time)
