USA Triathlon has announced Tuscaloosa, Alabama, as the host city for the 2017 Collegiate Club National Championships, the most competitive collegiate triathlon event in the country.
Tuscaloosa, home to the University of Alabama, also has a rich history of hosting top triathletes from across the country, including the 2008 U.S. Olympic Triathlon Trials, the 2009-10 USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships and Collegiate Club National Championships in 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2012. The event will be centered at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater, with the swim in the Black Warrior River.
More than 120 collegiate triathlon clubs are represented annually at Collegiate Club Nationals, and more than 1,200 athletes toed the line at last year’s event in Clemson, South Carolina. Collegiate Club Nationals features three race distances: the sprint-distance Draft-Legal Collegiate Championships, the traditional Olympic-distance Collegiate Club Nationals race and the Mixed Team Relay, where teams are comprised of four athletes (two men, two women) who each complete an abbreviated swim, bike and run course before tagging their teammates. The Mixed Team Relay was first held in Tuscaloosa in 2012.
“Tuscaloosa has always been an exceptionally welcoming city for our national events, and we are ecstatic about returning to the city in 2017,” said Rob Urbach, USA Triathlon CEO. “The collegiate triathlon field is highly competitive, and represents both the best triathletes and the future of the sport. We’re looking forward to reconnecting the Tuscaloosa community with the talent and camaraderie of these athletes and the social energy of our collegiate club program.”
"The City of Tuscaloosa is thrilled to have the USA Triathlon Collegiate Club National Championships back in Tuscaloosa for another year,” said Walter Maddox, Mayor of Tuscaloosa. “The triathlon offers a unique opportunity for residents and out-of-town travelers to witness exceptional talent and experience our great city all at once. As mayor, I am particularly appreciative of the relationship we are continuing to build with USA Triathlon and its athletes.”
"Tuscaloosa is honored to once again be chosen to host the 2017 USA Triathlon Collegiate Club National Championships,” said Jay Kasten, Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports Director of Sports. “The Tuscaloosa Amphitheater and the Black Warrior River will be a fantastic backdrop to an event that will result in multi-million dollar economic impact on the City of Tuscaloosa.”
The USA Triathlon Collegiate Club National Championships have showcased the talents of up-and-coming triathletes, including current elite athletes Erin Jones, Ben Kanute, Taylor Spivey, Rudy von Berg and Jason West, who have won collegiate titles since 2013 and are racing internationally in the ITU circuit.
About USA Triathlon: USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon and paratriathlon in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,300 races and connects with nearly 500,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work with athletes, coaches, and race directors on the grassroots level, USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the ITU and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).
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