USA Triathlon has announced its 2019 Elite, Under-23 and Junior Elite Triathletes of the Year presented by Wahoo Fitness. The awards recognise the top elite performers in draft-legal, non-drafting and off-road triathlon competition. Selections were determined by the USA Triathlon Athlete Advisory Council.
Katie Zaferes (Santa Cruz, California) was named Women’s Olympic/ITU Triathlete of the Year for the third time after a remarkable season. Zaferes earned her first world title in 2019, winning five of eight races in the season-long ITU World Triathlon Series, including the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final. She is the first US athlete to win the overall WTS title since Gwen Jorgensen won in 2014 and 2015 and went on to become the 2016 Olympic gold medallist.
Matt McElroy (Huntington Beach, California) earned Men’s Olympic/ITU Triathlete of the Year honours after a breakout 2019 season. McElroy made history with a silver-medal performance at ITU World Triathlon Leeds — becoming the second US man in history, and the first in a decade, to medal in a WTS event.
Earning Women’s Elite Non-Drafting Triathlete of the Year was Chelsea Sodaro (Poway, California). Sodaro’s season included a win at the IRONMAN 70.3 South American Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and a fourth-place finish at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Nice, France.
Timothy O’Donnell (Boulder, Colorado) was crowned Men’s Elite Non-Drafting Triathlete of the Year after a historic second-place finish at the IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. With that performance, he became the first American ever to break eight hours on the infamous course.
Claiming Men’s Elite Off-Road Triathlete of the Year honours for the ninth straight year was Josiah Middaugh (Vail, Colorado). Middaugh earned victories at XTERRA Beaver Creek and XTERRA Quebec and placed second at XTERRA Oak Mountain and XTERRA Victoria.
Suzie Snyder (Averill Park, New York) earned top honours for Women’s Elite Off-Road Triathlete of the Year. Snyder’s season was highlighted by wins at XTERRA Beaver Creek and XTERRA Oak Mountain. She took fifth at the XTERRA Pan American Championship in Ogden, Utah, and sixth at the XTERRA World Championship.
The 2019 USA Triathlon Elite, U23 and Junior Elite Triathlete of the Year selections are as follows:
Women’s Olympic/ITU Triathlete of the Year: Katie Zaferes (Santa Cruz, Calif.)
Men’s Olympic/ITU Triathlete of the Year: Matt McElroy (Huntington Beach, Calif.)
Women’s Elite Non-Drafting Triathlete of the Year: Chelsea Sodaro (Poway, Calif.)
Men’s Elite Non-Drafting Triathlete of the Year: Timothy O’Donnell (Boulder, Colo.)
Women’s Elite Off-Road Triathlete of the Year: Suzie Snyder (Averill Park, N.Y.)
Men’s Elite Off-Road Triathlete of the Year: Josiah Middaugh (Vail, Colo.)
Women’s Rookie of the Year: Gina Sereno (Madison, Wis.)
Men’s Rookie of the Year: Marc Dubrick (DeKalb, Ill.)
Women’s U23 Triathlete of the Year: Taylor Knibb (Washington, D.C.)
Men’s U23 Triathlete of the Year: Seth Rider (Germantown, Tenn.)
Women’s Junior Elite Triathlete of the Year: Gillian Cridge (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Men’s Junior Elite Triathlete of the Year: Drew Shellenberger (Indianapolis, Ind.)
2019 USA Triathlon Junior Elite All-Americans — Women (ages 16-19)
Gillian Cridge (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Liberty Ricca (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Makena Gates (Canton, Ga.)
(HM) Paige Horner (Grimes, Iowa)
(HM) Molly Elliott (Boise, Idaho)
(HM) Kira Stanley (Acworth, Ga.)
2019 USA Triathlon Junior Elite All-Americans — Men (ages 16-19)
Drew Shellenberger (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Davis Bove (Franklin, Tenn.)
Cavan Wilson (Coral Gables, Fla.)
(HM) Luis Ortiz (Orlando, Fla.)
(HM) Nicholas Holmes (Glendale, Wis.)
(HM) Jack Deweerdt (Hoffman Estates, Ill.)
2019 USA Triathlon Youth Elite All-Americans — Girls (ages 13-15)
Clara James-Heer (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Faith Dasso (New Braunfels, Texas)
Jenna Buchanan (Bartlett, Ill.)
(HM) Jaci Sievers (Elkhorn, Neb.)
(HM) Brenna Zerby (Fairview, Texas)
(HM) Andrea Ballestero (Clearwater, Fla.)
(HM) Mia Wentzy (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
(HM) Gabby Martin (Fircrest, Wash.)
2019 USA Triathlon Youth Elite All-Americans — Boys (ages 13-15)
Lawson McLeod (Lutz, Fla.)
Steven Cartwright (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Bryson Gates (Canton, Ga.)
(HM) Jaxson Plumb (Des Moines, Iowa)
(HM) Braxton Legg (Odessa, Fla.)
(HM) Kevin Lorinc (Plano, Texas)
