USA Triathlon Junior, Youth Nationals Returning to West Chester

Young triathletes from around the country will make their way to West Chester, Ohio, on Aug. 3-4 for the 2013 USA Triathlon Junior and Youth National Championships, which will take place at the Voice of America Park for the second straight year.

Action is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 3 with the draft-legal Junior Elite (ages 16-19) and Youth Elite (ages 13-15) national championships. Athletes earned their spots to compete at qualifying events, including last year's championship and Junior and Youth Elite Cups. The events feature a 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike and 5-kilometer run course for Junior Elites and a 375m swim, 10k bike and 2.5k run course for Youth Elites.

Nearly 700 youth and junior triathletes will compete in West Chester in August. (Erik Schelkun/USA Triathlon)

The fourth annual draft-legal team relay will be held Sunday, Aug. 4 at 8 a.m. for athletes ages 13-19. All athletes on the four-person teams will complete a 250m swim, a 5k bike and a 1.2k run. 

The age-group Youth National Championships will begin at 10:20 a.m., following the relay event. The event features six age and competition divisions for athletes ages 7-15. Younger athletes will complete a 100m swim, 5k bike and 1k run, while athletes 11-15 will race on a 200m swim, 10k bike, 2k run course. 

Nearly 700 athletes and 50 relay teams are expected to compete in the 13 events. National championship titles will also be awarded to the top youth club (non-drafting events) and development team (draft-legal). Visit usatriathlon.org  for more information on the event.

"West Chester was an excellent host for our youth and junior triathletes last year," USA Triathlon National Events Manager Breanna Bissell said. "We expect the same level of excitement again this year, especially since we know that this is an event that young athletes and their families can enjoy together."

 The youth demographic (ages 7-17) is the fastest growing segment of USA Triathlon's annual membership. At yearend 2012, USA Triathlon featured 62,345 youth annual members, which comprised more than 35 percent of the organization's annual membership.

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 510,000 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).