USA Triathlon has announced Omaha, Nebraska, as the location for the 2016 and 2017 Age Group National Championships, with the 2016 event scheduled for Aug. 13-14.
Age Group Nationals is USA Triathlon's longest-running National Championships event and was first held in 1983. Since 2010, the event has grown nearly 250 percent in the number of registered participants and is now consistently one of the top-three largest triathlons in the United States. The two-day event features the Olympic-Distance National Championships on Saturday, with athletes competing on a 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bike, 10-kilometer run course, and the Sprint National Championships, a 750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run race, on Sunday. The two-year stint in Omaha will see action centered at Carter Lake.
"Our Age Group National Championships event has grown exponentially in the last few years, and Omaha provides the perfect setting to host the thousands of athletes we expect to participate in 2016 and 2017," said Rob Urbach, USA Triathlon CEO. "During the search process, we were very impressed with the energy, spirit and soul of the people of Omaha. It's an ideal match for our uniquely passionate triathlon community."
In addition to picturesque swim, bike and run sites for the upcoming Age Group Nationals, Omaha is a national sports hub. The city hosts the College World Series annually since 1950, and will host the USA Swimming Olympic Trials for the third time in the summer of 2016. Omaha has also hosted the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and most recently at the international level, the 2015 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Grand Prix Final Round.
Omaha also offers a groundbreaking cultural scene, Smithsonian affiliated museums, and a lively entertainment district filled with local restaurants, quirky boutiques, street musicians and great pubs. Omaha is home to the world's largest indoor desert and the country's largest indoor rainforest. The city also features "Bob," a one-of-a-kind pedestrian bridge with a larger-than-life personality. Omaha is the center of the country making travel easy, and the airport is conveniently located close to Omaha's vibrant downtown. The race venue will be three miles from the downtown area.
"Hosting USA Triathlon is a great opportunity to showcase Omaha to thousands of athletes from all across the country," said Keith Backsen, Executive Director of the Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau. "This may be the first time to Omaha for many of these competitors and we're confident once they get a taste of the city, it won't be their last."
Age Group Nationals is being brought to Omaha through support from the city's Convention and Visitors Bureau, Mimran Event Management and Race Omaha.
"The Mimran Event team is very proud to have the opportunity to work with USA Triathlon to host the Age Group National Championships," said Alan Kohll, President of Mimran Event Management. "As you will find out, Omaha prides itself on making amateur sporting events beyond your imagination, and we look forward to welcoming you in August 2016."
For more on the 2016 USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships, visit usatriathlon.org/agnc16oly for Olympic-Distance Nationals, and usatriathlon.org/agnc16sprint for Sprint Nationals.
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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