TEMPE, Ariz. – The reigning back-to-back USA Triathlon Collegiate National Champions, Sun Devil triathlon, who recently defended their title last weekend in Tempe, announces the signing of Audrey Ernst and Kira Stanley.
"We are very excited to have Kira and Audrey join the Sun Devil family," said head coach Cliff English. "Kira brings a lot of experience as a seasoned triathlete and has impressed me a lot with a maturity that belies her age and a great work ethic. Audrey is also a very talented young athlete, has incredible determination and is a tremendous racer. Both have a lot of racing experience at the national and international Junior Elite level. I've been watching the progression of these two for a few years and I'm incredibly excited to have them joining our team. They're both excellent students and wonderful young people and will both be attending Barrett Honors College."
Ernst (South Elgin, Ill./Saint Charles North HS) was recently selected as a national finalist for Wendy's High School Heisman Award. She is a four-time USAT All-American and has been racing in triathlons since she was 13, winning several competitions more recently including the USAT Youth Elite National Championship (2013), Age Group World Championship (2015), Junior Elite Draft Legal Series Championship (2016), and National USAT High School Triathlon Championship (2017).
The six-time Academic All-Conference honoree is also a five-time IHSA varsity "All-State" athlete in track and field. Outside of athletics, she plays the harp, volunteers with Relay for Life, Tri for Change, with paratriathletes, and the Anti-Bullying Task Force.
Stanley (Acworth, Ga./Harrison HS) is a four-year varsity athlete in cross country and track and field. The individual runner-up at cross country state championships in 2016, she led Harrison to their first state title in 15 years. Stanley started racing triathlons at the age of six, is a three-time USA Triathlon National Champion, and raced for Team USA at CAMTRI Junior Championships in 2016 and 2017.
Academically, Stanley is a National Honor Society and Beta Club member and is part of the Chick-fil-a Leader Academy. She is an Honor Roll student with a 4.0+ GPA throughout high school.
The Sun Devils recently wrapped their second season as a program with their second consecutive national title, led by individual champion Hannah Henry, going 1-2-3 individually atop the podium.
"We are very excited to have Kira and Audrey join the Sun Devil family," said head coach Cliff English. "Kira brings a lot of experience as a seasoned triathlete and has impressed me a lot with a maturity that belies her age and a great work ethic. Audrey is also a very talented young athlete, has incredible determination and is a tremendous racer. Both have a lot of racing experience at the national and international Junior Elite level. I've been watching the progression of these two for a few years and I'm incredibly excited to have them joining our team. They're both excellent students and wonderful young people and will both be attending Barrett Honors College."
Ernst (South Elgin, Ill./Saint Charles North HS) was recently selected as a national finalist for Wendy's High School Heisman Award. She is a four-time USAT All-American and has been racing in triathlons since she was 13, winning several competitions more recently including the USAT Youth Elite National Championship (2013), Age Group World Championship (2015), Junior Elite Draft Legal Series Championship (2016), and National USAT High School Triathlon Championship (2017).
The six-time Academic All-Conference honoree is also a five-time IHSA varsity "All-State" athlete in track and field. Outside of athletics, she plays the harp, volunteers with Relay for Life, Tri for Change, with paratriathletes, and the Anti-Bullying Task Force.
Stanley (Acworth, Ga./Harrison HS) is a four-year varsity athlete in cross country and track and field. The individual runner-up at cross country state championships in 2016, she led Harrison to their first state title in 15 years. Stanley started racing triathlons at the age of six, is a three-time USA Triathlon National Champion, and raced for Team USA at CAMTRI Junior Championships in 2016 and 2017.
Academically, Stanley is a National Honor Society and Beta Club member and is part of the Chick-fil-a Leader Academy. She is an Honor Roll student with a 4.0+ GPA throughout high school.
The Sun Devils recently wrapped their second season as a program with their second consecutive national title, led by individual champion Hannah Henry, going 1-2-3 individually atop the podium.