Hy-Vee has confirmed that it is discontinuing the Hy-Vee Triathlon, with media reports on the announcement also featuring in the Des Moines Register and via KCCI news. The annual event held in Des Moines, Iowa, included timed competitions for elite athletes, amateurs and kids. Over the years, the Hy-Vee event also became one of the major prize purse triathlons globally.
Following Hy-Vee’s announcement, the supermarket company will shift its efforts to create a new event series promoting health and wellness in children. The new series will be ‘aimed at increasing accessibility to children at all fitness levels with a focus on non-competitive participation and helping others.’
Final details of the new series are still in the planning stages, but Hy-Vee officials anticipate a formal announcement by mid-March.
Meanwhile, while Hy-Vee continues to formulate its plans, media reports indiciate that Premier Event Management, the company that produced the Hy-Vee Triathlon, said it plans to keep the event going, starting this summer.
“We still have the permits for the city. And we will be doing the new, inaugural Des Moines Triathlon,” said Bill Burke, Premier’s Race Director.
“We’re just going to continue the tradition and the legacy that was the Hy-Vee Triathlon, and just try to build on that,” he said. “Unfortunately, at this point, we don’t have any sponsors. And we’re going to work aggressively to try to fill that void.”
“We are extremely proud to have put a spotlight on the sport of triathlon, through the world-class Hy-Vee Triathlon,” said Andy McCann, Executive Vice President and Chief Health Officer of Hy-Vee. “These events will continue to hold a special place in the history of our company, and we thank those athletes and volunteers who allowed us to be successful for so many years.”
The Des Moines-based Hy-Vee Triathlon began in 2007 as part of the supermarket chain’s long-term focus on customer and employee health. Throughout its tenure, the event has seen tens of thousands of athletes and spectators, ranging from community members and employees to world-class athletes, and has raised more than US$750,000 for charity.
“It has been an honor to watch the Hy-Vee Triathlon grow into a world-class event, introducing new athletes, spectators and our customers to the sport,” said Randy Edeker, Chairman, CEO and President of Hy-Vee. “We remain committed to the sport of triathlon, and to providing opportunities for health and wellness — both in and out of our aisles. I am excited about this new event series and what we’ll be able to accomplish with the help of our customers and communities in this next chapter.”
Hunter Kemper, a four-time Olympic triathlete who won last year’s Hy-Vee Triathlon 5150 Elite Cup race, said he is excited to see Hy-Vee continue its focus on making the sport of triathlon accessible to children of all skill levels.
“Winning the Hy-Vee Triathlon in 2014 was a highlight in my career, and I want to thank Hy-Vee for their tremendous support of the sport over the last eight years,” Kemper said. “A legacy has been created here. And I look forward to learning more about the new event series Hy-Vee will announce and the momentum it will continue with a younger generation of athletes.”
Hy-Vee is an employee-owned corporation operating 235 retail stores across eight Midwestern states with sales of more than US$8.7 billion annually. Hy-Vee ranks among the top 25 supermarket chains and the top 50 private companies in the United States.
www.hy-veetriathlon.com
www.hy-vee.com
