The Army West Point Triathlon team sent two cadets, Nelle Beatrice ’25 and Kate Bacon ’26, to the Ironman World Championships in Nice, France on September 22. The Ironman Nice course is one of the hardest courses in the world. It starts with the 2.4-mile open water swim in the Mediterranean Sea followed by an epic bike race with over 8000 feet of climbing along the 112-mile course with fast descents and technical switchback turns through the French countryside. The final leg is the 26.2-mile marathon run along the boardwalk in Nice. Neither cadet had completed a 140.6-mile race before and they not only finished, but were extremely competitive against the best in the world.

Both women from West Point Triathlon had amazing races at the Ironman World Championships. Nelle Beatrice was 12th in her age group (18-24F) and 8th military division in the world. She achieved a 58-minute swim, 7-hour 19 minute bike, a 3 hour 52 minute marathon, and a finish time of 12 hours 21 minutes and 42 seconds. Kate Bacon was 22nd in the age group and 14th military. She had a 1 hour 8 minute swim, 7 hour 44 minute bike, 4 hour 15 minute run, and finished in 13 hours 19 minutes and 40 seconds.

While representing the Army and the Academy at the the Ironman World Championships, the West Point cadets embodied the Ironman motto of “Anything is Possible.”

There are nearly 120 cadet clubs at West Point including athletic, recreational, academic, religious, hobby, and diversity clubs – something for virtually every interest, made possible by donors supporting the Margin of Excellence.

Excerpt and images provided by USMA.