A new national triathlon series, sponsored by Amica Insurance, has hit the US. The inaugural Amica Triathlon Series is a sprint distance series of events held throughout the country. The series features seven qualifying races and culminates with the Amica Championship, held on 1 November 2009 in Phoenix, Arizona.
The new series debuts in May with the Amica TexasMan Triathlon in Dallas, Texas. Additional events will be held throughout the spring and summer in Boulder (Colorado), Nashville (Tennessee), Charlotte (North Carolina), Portland (Oregon), Niantic (Connecticut) and Las Vegas (Nevada).
The overall male and female winners at the qualifying events are each granted a complimentary entry to the Amica Championship. In addition, the top ten finishers in each age group at the qualifying series events will also receive invitations to compete in the Amica Championship.
November’s Amica Championship will feature three divisions: Pros, Qualifiers/Elites and Age Group. Pros will compete for a US$20,000 (€15,500) prize purse and Age Group participants will battle for a US$5,000 (€3,900) purse.
John Mathews, President of the Eident Sports Marketing, the Amica Triathlon Series organiser, commented on the role of sprint distance races, as the fastest growing event category in US triathlon. "Sprint distance triathlons provide a great opportunity for a wide variety of athletes to test their skills at endurance sports," he said. "We are thrilled to partner with Amica Insurance and produce what promises to be a first-rate series of events throughout the country."
"Amica Insurance is pleased to be the Title Sponsor of the inaugural Amica Triathlon Series,” said Robert DiMuccio, company President and CEO. “We are thrilled to be an integral part of what we expect to be an exciting triathlon series. Amica understands that to be a triathlete, athletes have to be committed, dedicated and work extremely hard to accomplish their goals. These traits mirror how Amica has conducted business for more than a century. Our goal is to provide great insurance while serving our customers with integrity, humanity and fairness."
