Taking place this weekend, on 14-15 August, the 2010 USA Triathlon Junior Triathlon Festival reflects a surge in triathlon participation and a healthy outlook for the US multisport community.
The numbers speak for themselves:
The youth demographic (a racing age of 17 and under) is the fastest growing segment of the USA Triathlon (USAT) annual membership. As of 30 June 2010, USAT had 30,511 youth annual members, up from 26,146 in June 2009.
As of 30 June 2010, 23% of USA Triathlon?s annual members (30,511 of 134,952) were aged 17 and under.
USA Triathlon sanctioned 421 youth events in 2009, more than doubling the total of 193 sanctioned youth events in 2004.
The 2010 USA Triathlon Junior Triathlon Festival sees a record total of more than 500 athletes from ages 7-19 in action in 13 different races over the course of two days at San Diego?s Marine Corps Recruit Depot.
Junior elite (ages 16-19) and youth elite (ages 13-15) athletes will compete in draft-legal races. The age group youth events (ages 7-15) are open to athletes of all levels.
Race distances:
• Junior Elite National Championship (16-19): 750m swim, 20K bike, 5K run
• Youth Elite National Championship (13-15): 375m swim, 10K bike, 2.5K run
• Youth National Championship (7-10): 100m swim, 5K bike, 1K run
• Youth National Championship (11-15): 200m swim, 10K bike, 2K run
To help educate about triathlon, USA Triathlon has arranged three free, one-day clinics led by USAT Level II coach Jim Vance for the children of San Diego-area military personnel prior to this weekend.
For the first time, USA Triathlon will also hold a Team Relay event on Sunday 15 August for ages 13-19. All athletes – in teams of three with at least one female competitor – will complete a 250m swim, a 5K bike and a 2K run.
