USA Triathlon (USAT), along with race production companies Tucson Racing and 3D Racing, has announced that the 2020 USA Triathlon Duathlon National Championships, Collegiate Club Cup & High School National Championships in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, have been cancelled due to current local government guidelines surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Duathlon Nationals event was initially scheduled to take place in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, from May 30-31, while Collegiate Club & High School Nationals was originally set for April 9-10 in Tempe, Arizona. Both events were then rescheduled to take place at Lake Havasu State Park on October 16-17, as part of the Havasu Triathlon hosted by Tucson Racing.
The cancellation was required after Arizona State Parks & Trails informed USA Triathlon and Tucson Racing that it would no longer be able to permit events taking place in Arizona State Parks through the month of October.
“USA Triathlon was optimistic that the Havasu Triathlon would provide an opportunity for duathletes, collegiate club and high school athletes to come together for a National Championship experience — but as we all know, 2020 has become the year of the unexpected,” said Brian D’Amico, USA Triathlon Director of Events.
“The health and safety of all athletes, staff, volunteers and the community at large remain USA Triathlon’s highest priority. We appreciate the support and flexibility of Tucson Racing’s Jonathan Grinder, co-race directors Kenny Krell and Anne Marie Kern, Lake Havasu City and the nationwide multisport community over the last several months.”
Jonathan Grinder, Owner of Tucson Racing and Co-Race Director of the Havasu Triathlon, along with Kenny Krell and Anne Marie Kern, said “We have been working for a long time with Lake Havasu City and its staff and jointly felt we could put on a race where community and athlete safety was our top priority.
“The support of the community was outstanding, but in the end, the right call was made.”
The 2021 Duathlon National Championships will be held in Tuscaloosa from May 22-23, while the 2021 Collegiate Club National Championships return to Tempe on April 9-10.
The USA Triathlon High School National Championships will be discontinued starting in 2021, as high school-aged athletes are encouraged to participate in the USA Triathlon Youth & Junior National Championships in a youth elite, junior elite or youth age-group category.
Registered athletes will receive an email from Tucson Racing with more details about refund and discount options.
The 2020 Duathlon National Championships in Lake Havasu City would have qualified top finishers in each age group for the 2021 ITU Age Group Sprint or Standard-Distance Duathlon World Championships.
The 2021 Duathlon Nationals in Tuscaloosa will now serve as the qualifying event for both the 2021 Sprint or Standard-Distance Duathlon World Championships in Almere-Amsterdam, Netherlands, and the 2022 Sprint or Standard-Distance Duathlon World Championships in Townsville, Australia.
Qualifying athletes will have the option to represent Team USA in both Almere-Amsterdam and Townsville, or they may choose just one.
