Grand Rapids to Host USA Triathlon Long Course Nationals

More than 800 athletes will go the distance on Sunday at the 2014 USA Triathlon Long Course National Championships, held in conjunction with the Grand Rapids Triathlon in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The long course triathlon event will begin at 7 a.m. on Sunday, June 8, featuring a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run at the Thornapple River. Grand Rapids has earned national recognition for its biking environment, with the League of American Bicyclists naming the city a top Bicycle-Friendly Community in 2009 and Outside Magazine naming the city the Best Town for Mountain Biking in 2010. The Grand Rapids Triathlon also features aquabike, sprint- and Olympic-distance triathlon events, but no national titles will be awarded at these distances.

In 2013, Jana Richtrova (Ipswich, Mass.) and Dave Slavinski (Point Pleasant, N.J.) earned overall titles at Long Course Nationals, which was held in Anderson, South Carolina, as part of Rev3 South Carolina. Slavinski is on the start list for this weekend's event, seeking to defend his title for the third year in a row. A searchable list of participants is available from the website.

In addition to chasing national titles, athletes competing in Long Course Triathlon Nationals will be vying for spots on Team USA for the 2015 ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships, which will be held in Motala, Sweden, on June 27, 2015. The top 20 athletes per age group (rolling down to 25th place) will earn a Team USA spot. Team USA is comprised of age-group athletes who represent the U.S. at each ITU world championship event. Visit usatriathlon.org for more information on Team USA.  

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).