UA makes a strong start in college and regional triathlon over rivals
The University of Alicante triathlon program opened its 2023 season with a clear focus on Paris 2024, aiming for a coveted spot at the Olympic Games next summer. During a weekend gathering at the university, the athletics community gathered at the University Center with Catalina Iliescu, who directs Culture, Sports and University Expansion, present to welcome the team and its supporters.
The team is led by Roberto Cejuela, the current coach who also serves as secretary for Alicante University Sports. He highlighted a season that blends seasoned competitors with promising newcomers. The squad contains athletes who are pursuing Olympic qualification through world ranking points, alongside younger scholars who will chase national titles in youth and under-23 divisions.
On the Olympic track, standouts like Roberto Sánchez Mantecón, Xisca Tous, Luis Miguel Velázquez, Sara Vilic and Fabián Villanueva are set to train and compete in international meets to accumulate the rankings required for Tokyo Tokyo — er, Paris — qualification. The younger cohort includes Cantero, Eloy Canales, Moreno, Toni Juan, Mencía Padilla and Claudia Breso, who will target national championships and development meets to build their experience and credentials.
UA leads in college and regional triathlon circuits
The season’s first test featured the University of Alicante triathletes at the Valencia Community Duathlon Championship, held last weekend in the town of Rojales. In a tight field, David Cantero earned absolute victory and led the UA group onto the podium with teammate Fabian Villanueva finishing in second place. Sergio Moreno followed closely, achieving a bronze position.
The podium celebration saw Villanueva, Cantero and Moreno proudly representing the University of Alicante at the autonomous competition in Rojales. Their performances established an early momentum for the squad as the season progresses.
In the women’s race, Xisca Tous secured the top step with an absolute victory, while Sara Alemany, another UA triathlete, claimed second place. The opening round clearly demonstrated a strong start for the women’s team and signaled a promising year ahead.
The early results underscore the university program’s ability to balance endurance, speed, and tactical execution across both genders. With a blend of veteran leadership and young talent, the UA triathlon program is positioning itself as a force in both collegiate and regional competitions.
Aa future outlook, the squad will continue to monitor world ranking progress and national championship calendars, aligning training blocks with opportunistic competition windows to maximize points and experience. Supporters and university partners keep a close eye on how this group translates early momentum into sustained excellence through the season.