USA Triathlon, in partnership with RipRoar Events and the Flatland Cup Triathlon, has announced that the 2024 USA Triathlon Youth & Junior Nationals will be held on July 12-14, 2024 in West Des Moines, Iowa.
The USA Triathlon Youth & Junior Nationals will take place within Raccoon River Park in West Des Moines, which has a rich triathlon history dating back to 2008 when the Hy-Vee Triathlon served as the final US Olympic qualifying race for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Since then, Blue Heron Lake has witnessed a number of popular triathlons, including the first-ever Mixed Team Relay World Championships in 2009.
West Des Moines has also been home to the Flatland Cup Triathlon, the longest-running elite youth and junior draft-legal triathlon in the United States, which has long been a part of the USA Triathlon Youth & Junior Development Series.
“USA Triathlon is proud to partner with RipRoar Events and the Flatland Cup Triathlon to organize the 2024 USA Triathlon Youth & Junior Nationals,” said Victoria Brumfield, USA Triathlon CEO.
“For years, RipRoar has organized fantastic youth triathlon events, introducing the sport to a new generation of athletes, and the Flatland Cup Triathlon has long welcomed the rising stars of triathlon to race the draft-legal format in a fun, competitive environment.
“Each year, Youth & Junior Nationals showcases the most promising up-and-coming triathlon stars, while welcoming participants of all abilities. We look forward to partnering with fantastic local events like the Flatland Cup Triathlon and RipRoar to provide a premier race experience as we celebrate the performances of these young athletes.”
RipRoar Race Director Michael Zimmerman said “For more than a decade, the RipRoar and Flatland Cup weekend of races has had the feel of a national championship. We’re thrilled that for 2024 these races will play host, officially, to the top step of our sport.
“The best thing about triathlon is its accessibility to anyone with determination and a bike. Athletes of all abilities are welcomed to Sunday’s non-drafting race, including first-time athletes looking to discover a new sport.”
Craig Hanken, Race Director of the Flatland Cup draft-legal triathlon, added “The Flatland Cup Triathlon is the oldest youth and junior draft legal triathlon in the United States. Since 2010, the event, along with Z3 Triathlon Team, has hosted athletes from across the nation in the heart of America.
“We’re excited to partner with Rip Roar Triathlon, as we have for many years, to bring the USA Triathlon Youth and Junior Triathlon Championships to Des Moines, Iowa, to show athletes, their families and coaches some good old-fashioned Iowa hospitality, and deliver an amazing race experience for America’s fast youth athletes.”
The racing at 2024 Youth & Junior Nationals begins on Saturday, July 13 as the nation’s up-and-coming draft-legal triathlon stars (ages 16-19 and 13-15) will race in USA Triathlon Youth and Junior Nationals at Flatlands West Des Moines. Athletes must qualify for the event and registration will open after qualification races begin in 2024. The draft-legal format is the same style of racing contested at the Olympic Games and other elite World Triathlon competitions.
On Sunday, July 14, the racing continues with the non-drafting (ages 6-18) USA Triathlon Youth and Junior Nationals at RipRoar West Des Moines. No qualification is required to race in the youth age group races.
The team qualification-based, Youth & Junior Mixed Relay will cap the weekend of racing on July 14. In the Mixed Relay, teams are made up of four competitors (two boys, two girls), with each team member completing a 250m swim, draft-legal 5k bike and 1.2k run before tagging off to the next athlete. The Mixed Relay event made its Olympic debut at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, with the US team winning silver.
USA Triathlon launches new Youth State Series
USA Triathlon is also launching its new Youth State Series, a series of local, grassroots youth races across the United States that allow new youth athletes to get involved in the sport and race throughout the year.
Each localized series will be owned and operated by the local community and supported by USA Triathlon. Each local series will consist of at least five races and athletes will have the opportunity to earn points and compete for series awards. The format follows the USA Kids Tri Dallas Series, which USA Triathlon launched in spring 2023.
