Rising Second Year Earns Top Honors at Duathlon World Qualifier

A dedicated runner, Duncan Reid appreciates the physical challenges that come with being a member of the varsity men’s cross country team. But after an illness last fall semester interrupted his training for several weeks, Reid wanted to get back into running condition.

“I found I couldn't lose the weight I needed to just by running, especially in the winter,” says Reid. He then turned his attention to the world of multisport—a family of competitions that involve multiple athletic disciplines. It was something that he participated in during high school but had taken a hiatus from after an injury. By training for three sports instead of just one, Reid found the rigor needed to improve his physical health and reignited his passion for sports beyond running.

This summer, Reid secured top honors at the 2017 USA Triathlon Draft-Legal Duathlon World Qualifier held on June 18, 2017 in Bend, Oregon. The politics major from Palos Verdes Estates, California, finished first in his 15-19 age group in a competition that includes a five-kilometer run, two-lap, draft-legal 20-kilometer bike, and 2.5-kilometer run. The win at in the World Qualifier grants him a spot on Team USA for the 2018 International Triathlon Union Multisport World Championships Festival held in Odense, Denmark. Reid also gave a strong performance in the non-drafting Sprint-Distance Duathlon National Championships held that same weekend, where he won the national title for men ages 15-19 and placed fifth overall.

On the heels of these wins, Reid intends to cultivate a multisport community at Oberlin. “I look forward to starting an Oberlin triathlon team and representing my college on the national stage against large universities. The largest challenge will be to recruit Oberlin students to take up triathlon and join its supportive community.” Reid stresses that students’ participation can be just for fun. “Not everyone has to race competitively.”

Later this summer, Reid will continue his multisport competition at the National Triathlon Championships in West Chester, Ohio, the World Duathlon Championships in Penticton, British Columbia, and the Junior National Series Races held in Monroe, Washington, and West Des Moines, Iowa.