USA Triathlon today announced that registration is now open for the 2018 USA Triathlon Youth & Junior National Championships, which are headed to West Chester, Ohio, for the seventh consecutive year. The event is set for Aug. 4-5 at Voice of America Park.
The action-packed weekend of racing for triathletes ages 7-19 includes national championship events for youth elite, junior elite and youth age-group triathletes, as well as a mixed team relay championship event.
In December of 2016, USA Triathlon entered into an unprecedented five-year agreement with West Chester and Butler County to host Youth & Junior Nationals through 2021. Visit usatriathlon.org to read more about this continued partnership, which includes support from the Butler County Visitors’ Bureau and other local community organizations.
“Because of both the quality of the venue at Voice of America Park and the strength of our relationship with West Chester and Butler County, our decision to commit through 2021 was an easy one,” said Brian D’Amico, National Events Director at USA Triathlon. “We’re excited for another great weekend of racing in 2018, once again showcasing our nation’s up-and-coming triathletes as well as those just beginning in multisport. Athletes can expect to see further event enhancements each year to continue to add to the overall event experience.”
More than 20 of the 38 active USA Triathlon Youth and Junior High Performance Teams in the U.S. are within a day’s drive of the venue, making it a hub for the nation’s rising stars. The event has sold out for the last five years, with nearly 1,000 athletes competing for national titles annually.
“We are excited to welcome the USA Triathlon Youth & Junior National Championships back to West Chester for the seventh year,” said Mark Hecquet, Executive Director of the Butler County Visitors Bureau. “Voice of America Park is a perfect setting for this outstanding event, and we look forward to welcoming athletes and families from around the country to Ohio in 2018.”
Race weekend will begin on Saturday, Aug. 4, with the Youth Elite National Championship, a draft-legal race for 13- to 15-year olds. Athletes will complete a 375-meter swim, draft-legal 10-kilometer bike and 2.5-kilometer run, all contained within Voice of America Park.
On Saturday afternoon, athletes ages 16-19 will compete at the Junior Elite National Championship, which features a 750m swim, draft-legal 20k bike and 5k run. Athletes wishing to compete in the Youth Elite or Junior Elite races must qualify through either the 2018 USA Triathlon Junior Elite Series or the 2017 USA Triathlon Youth & Junior National Championships. For more information about the Junior Elite Series, visit usatriathlon.org/juniors.
The racing action continues on Sunday, Aug. 5, with the Youth Age Group National Championship. This event is open to athletes of all ability and experience levels, with no qualification required to compete. Athletes ages 7-10 will complete a 100m swim, non-drafting 5k bike and 1k run, while ages 11-15 will complete a 200m swim, non-drafting 10k bike and 2k run. National titles will be awarded in each age group. Registration for this race is currently open at usatriathlon.org.
The weekend concludes with the Mixed Team Relay National Championship, a spectator-friendly event that typically draws more than 50 teams. Youth and junior elite athletes ages 13-19 will race in four-person teams made up of two males and two females. Each athlete covers a 250m swim, draft-legal 5k bike and 1.2k run before handing off to the next teammate.
Elite mixed relay teams will receive invitations to register from USA Triathlon via email.
The Mixed Team Relay race format is similar to what is contested at the elite ITU Mixed Team Relay World Championships. In June, the International Olympic Committee and International Triathlon Union announced that the Mixed Team Relay will appear on the Olympic program for the first time at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
For more information and to register for the 2018 USA Triathlon Youth & Junior National Championships, visit the event page at usatriathlon.org.
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).
There are no comments
Please login to post comments