The USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships return to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for the third time next month, with the best amateur triathletes set to compete for national titles and world championship team spots on Aug. 8-9.
The event, which has been held annually since 1983, will feature two national championship races for athletes ages 18 to 80-plus. The Olympic-Distance National Championships covering a 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bike, 10-kilometer run course will begin at 7:30 a.m. CT on Saturday, Aug. 8. The Sprint National Championships will follow at 7:30 a.m. CT on Sunday, Aug. 9, in which athletes will complete a 750m swim, 20k bike and 5k run. More than 4,000 athletes have already registered to compete, and registration is still open for both events. Athletes must qualify for Olympic-Distance Nationals through the criteria outlined on usatriathlon.org. Sprint Nationals do not require qualification and athletes may register at active.com.
Set along the shores of Lake Michigan, the main venue and finish area will be at the Milwaukee Art Museum and Discovery World. In 2014, nearly 4,850 athletes from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., crossed the finish line in Milwaukee, providing the city with an economic impact of more than $11 million. The 2013 USA Triathlon Age Group Nationals in Milwaukee were voted the Best Urban Triathlon through the Triathlon Business International Triathlete's Choice Awards.
In addition to the hunt for national titles, athletes will be competing for coveted spots to represent the U.S. at the 2016 ITU World Championships in Cozumel, Mexico. The top 18 finishers (rolling down to 25th place) in each age group of the Olympic-Distance Nationals will automatically earn a spot for Team USA. In Sprint Nationals, athletes must finish in the top eight to secure a spot for the Sprint World Championships, which will feature a draft-legal bike leg for the first time.
Team USA is comprised of amateur athletes who represent the United States at each ITU world championship event. The 2015 ITU World Championships are set for Sept. 15-19 in Chicago, which will host 10 world championship events for age-groupers, elites and paratriathletes at the city's Grant Park. More on the 2015 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final and World Championships can be found at chicago.triathlon.org.
The multisport weekend in Milwaukee will begin on Thursday, Aug. 6 with a banquet to honor the 2014 USA Triathlon Athletes of the Year and Multisport Award winners. Hosted by the Age Group Committee, the celebration begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Pier Wisconsin at Discovery World. Registration information is available at active.com.
The Milwaukee-area community is encouraged to come out and support the competitors and experience the excitement of multisport. Admission to the races is free to all spectators. Volunteer spots are also still available and those interested may register here.
For more information on Age Group Nationals, visit the Olympic-Distance Nationals and Sprint Nationals event pages.
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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