Further details have come to light regarding the deal between organisers of the Hy-Vee Triathlon and World Triathlon Corporation (WTC).
It has been confirmed that WTC is assuming oversight of the Hy-Vee event from the International Triathlon Union (ITU). The Hy-Vee Triathlon itself is a major event in the new 5150 Series from WTC.
Hy-Vee has signed an agreement with World Triathlon Corporation to transform the Hy-Vee Triathlon into two championship events: ‘each with its own date, its own city and its own field of world-class athletes.’
Under the agreement, the Hy-Vee Triathlon and Hy-Vee Elite Cup races will be the US championship event for WTC’s new 5150 Series, the shorter (Olympic distance) version of its famous Ironman events.
Meanwhile, the popular Hy-Vee Kids Triathlon becomes the national championship of WTC’s fast-growing IronKids series for youths aged 6 to 15.
The move means new dates and new venues for both events in 2011. The Hy-Vee 5150 Triathlon and 5150 Elite Cup relocate to downtown Des Moines on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend (4 September 2011), while the Hy-Vee IronKids US National Championship will be held on the West Des Moines city campus on 17 September 2011.
For the last three years, both events had been held on the same weekend in June at Raccoon River Park in West Des Moines.
Hy-Vee President Randy Edeker said the new move comes at the right time for the company and WTC.
“We wanted to elevate our event to a position of national prominence in the sport of triathlon, and WTC wanted a strong championship event to anchor its new 5150 Series,” he said. “This partnership is going to create a great deal of excitement among triathletes and fans worldwide.”
The purse for the elite race will remain at US$1 million, but the male and female winners will receive only US$100,000, half of the previous amount. It is understood that the elite/pro field will consist of a select 30 men and women by invitation only.
Edeker added that the new arrangement shines a spotlight on the Hy-Vee Kids Triathlon as a premier event in its own right.
“The youth movement in triathlon has seen explosive growth over the last two years,” Edeker said. “The IronKids national championship will bring thousands of young athletes and their families from all over the country to West Des Moines. This kind of healthy, family-focused event is exactly what we had in mind when we started the Hy-Vee Kids Triathlon.”
