USA Triathlon Super Sprint Series Finale Headed to San Diego

The third and final event of the 2013 USA Triathlon Super Sprint Series, hosted by USA Triathlon and Fearless Races, is set return to San Diego on Saturday, Oct. 26 at Mission Bay's Tecolote Shores North Park. The event will be televised nationally by Universal Sports Network, with air dates and other details to be announced.

Sarah Groff won the first USA Triathlon Super Sprint Series event in San Diego on April 24. (Timothy Carlson)

This groundbreaking new format provides a spectator-friendly event featuring the world's best elite triathletes racing in the double super-sprint format. Each athlete will complete two continuous, non-stop circuits of the same course, each comprised of a 375-meter swim, 6-kilometer bike and 2.5-kilometer run. The women's final is slated for a 10:45 a.m. start, followed by the men's final at noon.

 "USA Triathlon is delighted to bring the world's top elites back to San Diego for the final race of the USA Triathlon Super Sprint Series. With the help of Fearless Races and Universal Sports, we are continuing to introduce a fun and fast triathlon format to multisport fans across the country," said Rob Urbach, USA Triathlon CEO.

The men's and women's fields will each consist of up to 30 athletes, vying for a total prize purse of $20,000, split equally among the men and women ($10,000 each field). The winners will pocket $2,500, with $2,000 going to the runners-up and $1,500 to the third-place finishers. The remaining $4,000 will be split among the other top-10 finishers per gender.

Spectators will be able to take in the entire race with minimal movement, as the course features a one-lap bay swim, followed by a five-lap bike and a two-lap run. Mission Bay's Tecolote Shores North Park is located at 1740 East Mission Bay Drive, across from Fiesta Island, the site of the world's first triathlon in 1974.

The USA Triathlon Super Sprint Series opener was also held in San Diego on April 24, following the 2013 Omegawave World Triathlon San Diego. Sarah Groff (Hanover, N.H.), who earned a fourth-place finish at the 2012 London Olympic Games, bested the women's field with a time of 40 minutes even, while Australian Aaron Royle finished in 37:10 to win the men's race. The second race of the series is slated to take place Sept. 19 in Las Vegas, Nev.

To be eligible for competition, athletes must be a current USA Triathlon elite license holder or an international professional. A minimum of 50 percent of the field will be reserved for U.S. athletes, providing an opportunity for the nation's emerging and Olympic-level triathletes to enhance draft-legal cycling skills and race tactics. Athletes interested in competing are encouraged to send a race resume to info@fearlessraces.com.

For more information on the event, visit usatriathlon.org or f1tri.com.

About USA Triathlon: Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon - the fastest growing sport in the U.S. Olympic Movement - as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon and paratriathlon in the United States. USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,300 races and connects with more than 630,000 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 Summer Olympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the ITU and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).