USA Triathlon Announces Exhibition Women's Collegiate Triathlon Season

USA Triathlon today announced the three events that will comprise the inaugural 2014 women's collegiate triathlon season, including the Women's Collegiate Triathlon National Championships in Clermont, Florida, on Nov. 2.

The three draft-legal exhibition events showcase the season structure that will be implemented next year when triathlon is granted official NCAA sport status. Triathlon received overwhelming approval through a voting process this past January at the NCAA Conference in San Diego by Division I, II and III colleges and universities to be included as an NCAA Emerging Sport for Women, and has a 10-year window to demonstrate sustainability as an NCAA sport option.

Races will feature a 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike and a 5-kilometer run as outlined in the proposal approved by the NCAA. The season kicked off onSaturday, Sept. 13, at the Triathlon at Pacific Grove Collegiate Elite Exhibition, and continues on Oct. 26 with the Brooklyn Triathlon Collegiate Women's Invitational Cup. Event details, including registration information, are below. 

The Women's Collegiate Triathlon National Championships will be held on Nov. 2 at Lake Louisa State Park in Clermont, Florida. The National Championships will be an invitation-only event, with the top-10 finishers in the two early-season events automatically qualifying for a spot on the start list. Invitations to the first-ever collegiate women's championship event will also be based on results from the club-focused 2014 USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championships, the 2014 Junior Elite rankings and athletes who may not be affiliated with a collegiate or junior club team and have posted competitive times in previous draft-legal events.

"We have been working diligently over the past nine months to quickly create a baseline season that demonstrates the talent pool for women ages 16-25 and the impact the sport can make at the varsity level within the NCAA," said Rob Urbach, USA Triathlon CEO. "These races are a prime opportunity to show colleges and universities considering the sport for their athletics programs why it is a viable option, and the significant potential for the student-athletes and the community. With a full year to work with schools and build the foundation for women's varsity triathlon at the collegiate level, we are excited to launch a NCAA season schedule in 2015." 

For more information on triathlon as an NCAA Emerging Sport for Women, visit usatriathlon.org/ncaa. For questions regarding events and programming, please contact Jess Luscinski at jess.luscinski@usatriathlon.org.

COMPLETED: Tri California - Triathlon at Pacific Grove
Race Name: Collegiate Elite Exhibition
Sept. 13, 2014
Website: http://www.tricalifornia.com/index.cfm/PG2014-main.htm

Brooklyn Triathlon at Coney Island
Race Name: Collegiate Women's Invitational Cup
Oct. 26, 2014
Website: http://www.brooklyn-triathlon.com/
Registration Link: www.brooklyn-triathlon.com/registration/
Note: Athletes must register under Sprint-Collegiate Women's Invitational Cup                                                                 

Women's Collegiate Triathlon National Championships
Lake Louisa State Park, Clermont, Florida
Nov. 2, 2014
Invitation-only event, top-10 finishers from Tri California and Brooklyn Tri will receive an automatic bid to the Collegiate Varsity Women's National Championship.
Website: http://www.clermonttri.com/index

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).