The 2014 St Anthony’s Triathlon has been selected as the 2014 Paratriathlon Florida Regional Championship event by USA Triathlon (USAT). The Florida Regional Championship race will host several Paralympic hopefuls looking to join Team USA as the sport of paratriathlon makes its debut at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games in Brazil.
The St Anthony’s Triathlon weekend event will be held on 25-27 April 2014 with a varied line-up of races including the St Anthony’s Triathlon international-distance race; a new sprint distance race and the Meek & Mighty race for youth and novice adults. A two-day Sports and Fitness Expo will also be part of the weekend events held in downtown St Petersburg, Florida.
“It is wonderful that our sport will be recognized in the Paralympic Games where more than 4,200 Paralympians from 150 nations are expected to attend,” said Susan Daniels, St. Anthony’s Triathlon Race Director. “We are honoured to be chosen as the Paratriathlon Florida Regional Championship and look forward to having Paralympic hopefuls compete on our scenic waterfront course.”
USA Triathlon notes that paratriathlon continues to grow following the decision to add the sport to the 2016 Paralympic Games. The International Paralympic Committee announced in December 2010 that paratriathlon will make its debut at the Paralympic Summer Games in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.
Entry fees for the paratriathlon event are US$75.00 and the Sprint Triathlon route will have a 750m swim, 12 mile bike and a 5K run.
The St Anthony’s Triathlon, a popular and widely known premier race event with more than a 30-year history, attracts high-calibre triathletes from around the world including a wide range of professional and amateur athletes such as Olympic gold medallists, Ironman World Champions and celebrity athletes.
The St Anthony’s Triathlon is entering its fourth year as part of the World Triathlon Corporation’s (WTC) 5150 Triathlon Series and is a qualifier for the HyVee 5150 US Championship. The race also serves as the USA Triathlon Florida Regional Championship, which qualifies athletes for the USAT Nationals.
St Anthony’s Triathlon celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2013 and approximately 3,500 athletes coming from more than 44 states and 23 countries participated in that event. The roster included 90 pros who competed for a portion of the US$65,000 prize purse.
The 2014 St Anthony’s Triathlon weekend events and registration fees are:
Friday, 25 April – Saturday, 26 April:
Sports and Fitness Expo, Straub Park, 500 Beach Drive
Friday: 12:00 – 19:00; Saturday: 09:00 – 19:00, Free.
Saturday, 26 April:
Meek & Mighty Triathlon, North Shore Pool, 901 North Shore Drive
Shorter distance race for youth ages 7 – 14 and novice adults. 07:30 start time.
(Individual registration fee: US$50 by 28 Feb 2014; US$60 by 31 Mar)
Sunday, 27 April:
St Anthony’s Triathlon, North Shore & Vinoy Parks
International-distance race (1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run.) 06:50 start.
(Individual registration fee: US$165 by 28 Feb 2014; US$170 by 31 Mar)
St Anthony’s Sprint Distance race
750m swim, 12 mile, 5K run. Approximately 08:45 start time.
(Individual registration fee: US$75 by 28 Feb 2014; US$85 by 31 Mar)
