Grand Rapids Triathlon Will Host National Long-Course Championships

In Colorado Springs, CO USA Triathlon announced last week the Grand Rapids Triathlon, presented by Huntington Bank and Amway Corporation, has been chosen to host the 2014 Long-Course National Championships. This comes after an in depth study of top triathlons across the country. This is the first time Long-Course Nationals has been hosted by a Michigan Triathlon.

 “We are excited to welcome athletes from the across the country to Grand Rapids, MI and to share the support of triathlon that we have experienced,” says Andy Vidro, Co-Director of the Grand Rapids Triathlon.

Triathletes looking to compete in the USAT Long Course World Competition in Sweden 2015 must come to Grand Rapids, MI to get there. There are no qualifications needed to compete in Nationals and those who finish in the top 20 of their age group will be invited to represent the US in Sweden in 2015.

"We are excited that USA Triathlon has selected the Grand Rapids Triathlon as one of their national championship events in 2014.  The Tris4Health group that puts on both this event and the Michigan Titanium, consistently achieve excellent standards in their events based on participant response and growth in participants each year.  The participants who will visit our community for the first time will be amazed by the efforts put forth by the sponsors, volunteers and race directors to make it one of the best national events they will experience," said Mike Guswiler, President West Michigan Sports Commission

Long Course Triathlon Nationals will be contested at the Grand Rapids Triathlon and will feature a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run on June 8, 2014 in the Ada/Cascade Townships. In addition to this distance, the Grand Rapids Triathlon also offers a Sprint and Olympic distance and is known for its flat, fast course that appeals to both the elite athlete and the new triathlete. This year they will also offer a Splash and Dash, a swim bike event for kids ages 6-15.

Visit www.grandrapidstriathlon.com for more information. Visit usatriathlon.org for complete details on the 2014 USA Triathlon National Championship Schedule.

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 550,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the ITU and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).

About West Michigan Sports Commission: The West Michigan Sports Commission’s main goal is to promote Michigan’s West Coast as the premier venue for hosting a diverse level of youth and amateur sporting events, enhancing the economy and quality of life in the region.