HIGH POINT, N.C. — The High Point University Intercollegiate Club Sports (ICS) program announced the addition of a triathlon program, which will begin competition in Fall 2026. The addition marks the 26th sport and 42nd team to the ICS programs offered at High Point University. 

The ICS program is one of the fastest-growing competitive offerings on campus. It currently features 24 sports, 39 teams, and engages 900 student-athletes, with long-term expansion plans still underway. These teams compete in conference, regional and national tournaments and train in state-of-the-art athletic facilities that mirror the standards and expectations of HPU's NCAA Division I programs.

This addition of the triathlon program partners with ever-growing development of the HPU's ICS program and it was recognized in 2023-24 as one of the fastest-growing sports by the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program. Additionally, there are over 200 active collegiate club sports triathlon programs in the United States. 

According to the USA Triathlon website there are 41 NCAA Women's Varsity Triathlon programs across the landscape of the United States. Twelve of those programs are located in North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee, including Guilford College, Greensboro College, Lenoir-Rhyne, Queens (N.C.), Wingate and Warren Wilson, who are located in North Carolina. 

USA Triathlon membership saw the most significant growth in two age demographics — 20-29 and 30-39 — signaling positive long-term opportunities for athletes with longevity in the sport. Membership for 20-29-year-olds increased by 10,000+ members from 2023 to 2024, while 30-39 membership is now the largest cohort of members, overtaking the 40-49 age group post-COVID starting in 2022.

This growth has not only been seen from a domestic perspective, but also from an international one, as there has been a 40 percent increase in the amount of international students that represent their homelands in NCAA institutions since 2019. 

"We are grateful for the university's commitment to expanding opportunities for student-athletes," said Dr. Stephen Denny, who serves as the Director of Athletics for the High Point University ICS program. "This program will be a premier sport for elite talent that pairs well with the HPU community and prospective students."