On September 19, third-year student Elaine Sheikh crossed the finish line for the World Triathlon Series in Cozumel, Mexico. Despite being kicked in the head and trapped under a buoy during the swimming portion of the race, Sheikh took sixth place in her age group with a time of 2 hours and 21 minutes.

Sheikh says that the best part about competing is meeting athletes from across the globe that share her passion. “It was great to be racing alongside others from all over the world in Cozumel,” Sheikh said. “Everyone is so dedicated and passionate. Even though we don’t speak the same language, we can come together to share something that we love, and I think that’s amazing.”

In order to qualify for Team USA, Sheikh had to place in the top 20 for her age group during one of the national championship races. Sheikh qualified for Team USA in 2015 for both the Olympic and sprint triathlon distances. The sprint distance race consists of a 750 meter swim, a 20 kilometer bike ride, and a 5 kilometer run. The Olympic distance race consists of a 1500 meter swim, a 40 kilometer bike ride, and a 10 kilometer run. Not to be confused with the actual Olympics, the different distances are to accommodate athletes of all skill levels. Sheikh competed in both the Olympic and sprint distances in Cozumel. She will represent Michigan State University in the Collegiate National Championships this spring. 

Sheikh isn’t the only triathlete from the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine. Large animal veterinarian Dr. Vanessa Cook also competed at the World Triathlon Series in Cozumel. Dr. Cook took fourteenth place in her age category, with a time of just over 2 hours and 30 minutes.