DRURY DOZEN – the top 12 moments of ’23-24 – No. 11: DU Triathlon finishes 2nd at NCAA-II West Regional

The Drury Dozen is an annual list of our favorite moments of the year from Drury Athletics. The list is not necessarily the most significant events but the special games and moments we’ll always associate with 2023-24 as chosen by the Drury Athletics sports communications staff.
 
We’ll provide honorable mention selections later in the countdown, but for now, here is our second entry from 2023-24:
 
#11 – Drury triathlon finishes second at NCAA-II West Regional
 
Oct. 14, 2023 – Fellows Lake, Springfield, Mo.
 
The event itself made history as Fellows Lake, located just north of Springfield, made its debut as the site for the NCAA West Regional triathlon championship. Heartland Racing teamed up with Drury for the event and the collegiate event included Arizona State, TCU, and San Francisco University.
 
The Panthers finished second and senior Zoe Van Dijk was the runner-up among Division II competitors and was 25^th overall in a field of 123.
 
The regional set up Drury’s fourth-place at the national championship a month later in Tempe, Arizona, and Van Dijk came in seventh in Division II to earn All-American honors, while Alexis Workman won her heat and was 17^th overall.
 
While Drury had hosted the regional before, 2023’s event marked the first time it was held in the Springfield-metro area. The success last fall’s race also resulted in the West Regional returning to Fellows Lake next season – Oct. 12, 2024.  
 
Race Recap
Division II West Regional results
 
Drury Dozen
#12 – Luke Burk breaks DU single-season home run record in 8-7 win over Ill. Springfield