Arizona Triathlon Team Wins Second Straight National Championship

Head coach Wes Johnson, national champions Kelly Wetteland and Margareta Vrablova reflect on the team's success and what it will take to win a third title.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 10:39pm

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In just its third year of existence, the Arizona Triathlon team brought home a second straight national championship, beating out rival ASU and Big 12 foe TCU with 927 total points. Individual national champion Kelly Wetteland and runner-up Margareta Vrablova led the way for the Wildcats, who raised another banner on National Championship Drive. Head coach Wes Johnson, Wetteland, and Vrablova discussed the team's journey, the standard of "Invest, Commit, Repeat," and the challenges of repeating as champions.

Why it matters

Arizona's triathlon program has quickly emerged as a national powerhouse, winning back-to-back titles in just its third year. The team's success highlights the growth of triathlon as an NCAA sport and the Wildcats' ability to recruit top talent and build a championship-caliber program from scratch.

The details

The Wildcats beat out rival ASU and Big 12 foe TCU with 927 total points to claim their second straight national championship. Kelly Wetteland finished as the individual national champion with a time of 01:02:09, while Margareta Vrablova was right behind her with a time of 01:02:19. Head coach Wes Johnson praised the team's commitment to the "Invest, Commit, Repeat" mantra, which focused on developing the same core group rather than constantly recruiting new talent.

  • The Arizona Triathlon team won its second straight national championship in November 2026.
  • The team raised its second straight championship banner on National Championship Drive on February 4, 2026.

The players

Wes Johnson

The head coach of the Arizona Triathlon team, who has led the program to back-to-back national championships in just its third year of existence.

Kelly Wetteland

The individual national champion, who finished the race with a time of 01:02:09.

Margareta Vrablova

The runner-up in the individual national championship, finishing with a time of 01:02:19.

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What they’re saying

“Just amazing, all the work we did paid off. There was lots of highs and even more lows, and so to see that, that's what makes it even more rewarding. Just the journey and what it leads to and to see that happen on the right day at the right time. It's unbelievable.”

— Wes Johnson, Head Coach (azdesertswarm.com)

“It was surreal. I can't honestly remember, I saw the videos, and I can't believe I did that. It just all went together that day, but when I turned around and saw Margaret, I mean, our top five was in the top 10, so we knew pretty quickly that we had won. It was just so fulfilling to see all that hard work really pay off and in the best way possible.”

— Kelly Wetteland, Individual National Champion (azdesertswarm.com)

“It feels amazing. Our goal is to get better and better day to day and just focus on our process. This was such a good outcome. So it was, it's very special.”

— Margareta Vrablova, Individual National Championship Runner-Up (azdesertswarm.com)

What’s next

The team will look to win a third straight national championship next season, with the majority of the roster returning and a new athlete joining the squad. Coach Johnson emphasized the importance of focusing on the daily process rather than just the end goal of winning another title.

The takeaway

Arizona's triathlon program has quickly established itself as a national powerhouse, winning back-to-back championships through a relentless commitment to development, teamwork, and a focus on the daily process. The team's success highlights the growth of triathlon as an NCAA sport and the Wildcats' ability to build a championship-caliber program from scratch.