IMSA’s Legge Set to Run Triathlon with All-Female Team

By IMSA Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – In the run up to the 66th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts, driver Katherine Legge unveiled plans to participate in a triathlon at Daytona International Speedway in December as part of an all-female team of triathletes known as “Team LC.”

The “LC” stands for champion triathlete Leanda Cave, the first woman to win both the Ironman Triathlon and the Ironman 70.3 world championship in the same year. Cave founded Team LC in 2016 with the mission of empowering women through triathlon, and at Sebring, Legge was announced as one of the team’s ambassadors. Legge participated in her first half-Ironman triathlon in late 2016.

“One of my main goals in life is empowering females through the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) stuff that I do,” Legge said. “When this came up, I thought, what better way to say ‘You can do it. You can be a race car driver. You can be a triathlete. You can do whatever it is you set your mind to doing.’

“The empowering women aspect of it really kind of grabbed me. Leanda is awesome and one of my heroes. There’s no way I could even be half as fast as her, but I will keep trying. It’s a great way for me to keep motivated and keep focused, challenge myself and give myself some competition at the same time. Competition is what drives me if you hadn’t noticed.”

The Challenge Daytona triathlon is scheduled for December 8. Both the cycling and running course will use parts of the Daytona International Speedway racetrack, while the swimming portion will use Lake Lloyd in the speedway’s infield.

For the cycling portion, Legge will use a carbon fiber racing bike built by Ventum. The bike’s “livery” matches the scheme on the No. 86 Michael Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian Acura NSX GT3 that Legge drives in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

After the Challenge Daytona, the bike will be auctioned off with proceeds benefiting the Leanda Cave Foundation. The Foundation raises funds to help develop an all-woman triathlon team and mentor program that will empower women of all levels. Legge is one of approximately 30 athletes that are part of Team LC.

“Being surrounded by 30 really cool females who all have the same mindset that you have – girls need to see examples,” Legge said. “If they see us doing it, then they are inspired to do it themselves.”