Former British International School, Phuket (BISP) student Sam McInnes has claimed her first major achievements in America just three months into her triathlon scholarship – an individual bronze medal at the USA-Triathlon Collegiate National Championships and an NCAA Division II team trophy.

Sam is a freshman (first year) at the Queens University of Charlotte in North Carolina, where she studies Business, New Media Design and French, and competes for the university’s athletics team known as the Royals. She was offered a triathlon scholarship to the university earlier this year, just before her IB examinations at BISP. Sam was one of the school’s top-performing IB students, achieving 40 points. 

Joining a team of six female Queens athletes, Sam earned her National Championship bronze medal last weekend in Tempe, Arizona. The triathlon course featured a 750m swim, draft-legal 20km bike, and 5km run and was broadcast live on TV. Sam finished third in a time 1:07:36, just behind one of her Queens teammates. Her efforts ensured Queens won its fifth consecutive Division II national title.

Speaking to BISP, Sam’s father, Tom McInnes, said: “Sam has settled in fine at Queens and is part of a forty-strong triathlon team. They are all fun-loving, but train and race hard to keep Queens’ Royals in number one position. 

“Full credit must go to BISP for their important part in Sam’s journey. Her friends and teammates here are really interested in her life in Asia and this is helping spread the word of your fine academy,” Tom said.

Zane Castro, Head Coach of the BISP Triathlon Academy, has been closely watching and supporting Sam in her first season in America.

“The team and I are very happy to see her podium in such a big race in her first season. As a previous NCAA triathlon coach, I believe what we are doing here at BISP is fundamental to transitioning young women and men into the NCAA or higher caliber systems,” said Coach Zane.

You can read more on Sam’s race by visiting the Queens Athletics official website.