USA Triathlon announced the schedule for a weekend of elite, collegiate and age-group races from Oct. 7-8 in Sarasota, Florida, at the Sarasota-Bradenton Triathlon Festival. The weekend of racing will be headlined by an International Triathlon Union World Cup competition, which will also serve as USA Triathlon’s Elite National Championships.
Age-group races in both draft-legal and non-draft formats will be held in conjunction with the elite competitions. All events are set to take place at Nathan Benderson Park, a 600-acre community park operated by the nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates, Inc., (SANCA).
“USA Triathlon is excited to partner with SANCA to host two days of high-energy, fast-paced racing at Nathan Benderson Park,” said USA Triathlon National Events Director Brian D’Amico. “We look forward to showcasing some of the world’s fastest triathletes and paratriathletes in the ITU World Cup events, while offering age-group competition throughout the weekend.”
Elite athletes will compete in Sarasota for a share of a $60,000 prize purse. The women’s ITU World Cup race is set for Oct. 7, with the men following on Oct. 8. As the USA Triathlon Elite National Championships, national podium placements will be awarded to the top-three U.S. finishers in each race. The elite course features a spectator-friendly, multi-loop 1,500-meter swim, 36.6-kilometer bike and 10-kilometer run through the park, which has served as the site of ITU Continental Cup events since 2013.
A paratriathlon World Cup, also set for Oct. 8, will feature a sprint-distance course covering a 750m swim, 18k bike and 5k run.
Alongside the elite races, the Sarasota-Bradenton Triathlon Festival will offer a variety of racing opportunities for amateur athletes. An Age Group Draft-Legal Sprint Triathlon World Qualifier will be held on Oct. 7, featuring a 750m swim, 18k bike and 5k run. Top finishers in each division will qualify to represent Team USA at the 2018 ITU Age Group Sprint World Championships in Gold Coast, Australia.
Closing out the weekend on Oct. 8 will be an age group open triathlon. This sprint-distance, non-draft legal race is ideal for all triathletes, from first-timers to experienced competitors.
Registration is now open for age-group races. To participate in age-group races, athletes must be at least 15 years of age by Dec. 31, 2017.
A women’s varsity collegiate race is also set for Oct. 7, featuring a 750m swim, draft-legal 18.3k bike and 5k run course. The race serves as the East Regional Qualifier for the 2017 Women’s Collegiate National Championship, which is set for Nov. 5 in Tempe, Arizona. Triathlon is a varsity-level NCAA Emerging Sport for Women.
For more information about the Sarasota ITU World Cup events, visit triathlon.org. For additional details on age-group events, visit usatriathlon.org/2017sbtrifest.
Schedule of Events (Subject to Change)
Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017
9 a.m. Age Group Draft Legal Sprint Triathlon World Qualifier Start
1 p.m. Sarasota-Bradenton ITU Triathlon World Cup Elite Women’s Start
3:30 p.m. ITU Triathlon World Cup Elite Women’s Awards Ceremony
5 p.m. Women’s Collegiate Triathlon East Regional Qualifier Start
7 p.m. Women’s Collegiate Triathlon East Regional Qualifier Awards Ceremony
Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017
7:30 a.m. Age Group Sprint Non Draft Triathlon Start
10 a.m. ITU Paratriathlon World Cup Start
1 p.m. ITU Paratriathlon World Cup Awards Ceremony
2:30 p.m. ITU Triathlon Elite Men’s Start
4:45 p.m. ITU Triathlon World Cup Elite Men’s Awards Ceremony
All times are Eastern.
About SANCA: The Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center, Inc. (SANCA), is a not-for-profit business created to manage Nathan Benderson Park, a community/public asset and world class, multi-use sports venue. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for our community and be an economic generator for the region. SANCA’s primary purpose is to develop and promote Nathan Benderson Park as a world class event center, team training site and Sarasota County Park, while providing outreach programs through recreation, safety training, education and volunteering as a service to our community.
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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