By A’Kira Hames
Triangle contributing writer
Guided by an Olympian’s vision and fueled by global talent, the Wingate women’s triathlon team has turned cultural diversity into competitive strength, and the results are reshaping what success looks like in Division 2 sports.
The Bulldogs have placed first in four of the five meets they’ve competed in this fall, including the USA Triathlon Collegiate East Regional qualifier at Lake Norman State Park last Saturday. They will go for their second straight national championship on Saturday (Nov. 8) in Tempe, Ariz.
The Wingate women have made a name for themselves on the national stage, not only for their results but also for the global blend of athletes who make up its roster. From Germany and Turkey to Barbados and Australia, the Bulldogs have built one of the most internationally diverse teams in collegiate triathlon, and that diversity is no accident.
Head coach Nick Radkewich, a former U.S. Olympian, said the program’s international reach grew naturally as Wingate’s reputation spread.
“It’s a combination of both,” Radkewich said. “We research and contact some through international race results. We are fortunate by having early team success that many reach out to us. In both cases, it comes down to analyzing their team fit and academic standing to build the best team.”
That approach has made Wingate a magnet for talent. The roster features athletes with national-level racing experience in their home countries who adapt quickly to the collegiate format. This fall, that included freshmen such as Vanda Křížková from the Czech Republic and Shelby Lajeunesse of Canada, who joined established performers like sophomore Paula Auschill of Germany and senior Zahra Gaskin of Barbados.
For Lajeunesse, who grew up in Quebec, the road to Wingate began online. “I found the Wingate recruitment questionnaire on the USA Triathlon website and decided to fill it out,” she said. “Coach Rad then reached out to me and we started our discourse until the recruitment.”
Adjusting to the U.S. collegiate system brought new challenges, but also growth. “The group here is definitely bigger than my team from home,” Lajeunesse said. “Also, we do not have university-level triathlon as developed as in the U.S.”
Every athlete brings something different, from training methods and nutrition habits to personal routines. That blend, Lajeunesse said, has become the team’s strength.
“We all come from different training methods, but we end up finding similarities between us,” she said. “I do enjoy trying new things, so I am always open to my teammates’ ways of training. We are also all missing home, so that is something we can all relate and talk about between us.”
That sense of understanding, Radkewich said, creates unity and purpose. “Many of our athletes have raced at national or regional levels in their home countries,” he said. “That gives them a deeper understanding of race strategy and adaptability, skills that show up in tight competition.”
Lajeunesse said she also carries a piece of home into every race. “I’ve been racing triathlons since I was 4 years old,” she said. “I find it very important to fuel properly, so I’ve brought my nutrition [food] from home. They’re all made from maple syrup, which is a very Canadian ingredient.”
Wingate’s global influence extends far beyond the course. The athletes train, study and travel together, creating a culture that celebrates curiosity as much as competition. They exchange recipes, trade phrases from their native languages and learn from one another’s routines.
Radkewich said that diversity has defined the program’s identity. “The variety of experiences each athlete brings strengthens the entire team,” he said. “It creates an environment where they push each other and learn from each other every day.”
Wingate’s recent performances reflect that unity. The Bulldogs have shown remarkable consistency at major meets, blending the leadership of veterans with the spark of underclassmen who have quickly found their rhythm.
As the team continues to train, the focus remains on balance—developing world-class athletes who are equally strong in character.
“At the end of the day, it’s about helping them grow as people as much as competitors,” Radkewich said. “That’s what makes this group so rewarding to coach.”
Whether they come from Canada, Germany, Turkey or North Carolina, every athlete on the roster shares the same goal: representing Wingate with pride and purpose. For a program built on connection, resilience and shared ambition, the message is clear: Excellence knows no borders.
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