Known for a strong field of pro athletes and a scenic downtown, waterfront course in St Petersburg, Florida, next year’s St Anthony’s Triathlon is expanding. The three-day event, taking place across 25-27 April 2014, is adding a new Sprint Triathlon for 2014.
The St. Anthony’s Triathlon weekend will also include a two-day Sports and Fitness Expo; the Meek & Mighty Triathlon for youth and novice adults on Saturday; and on Sunday, the St Anthony’s Triathlon itself, which will be followed by the new sprint-distance event. Registration for all three St Anthony’s races opens on 1 December 2013, at 09:00 local time.
The sprint race will utilise the same course as the international/Olympic distance event. Sprint athletes will swim 750m, bike 12 miles; and run a 5K to finish the race. Sprint participants will start at approximately 08:45 a.m. following the St. Anthony’s Triathlon.
“If you’re a first-timer, the sprint distance is a great choice,” said Philip Lahaye, Race Director of St Anthony’s Triathlon. “You can be part of an internationally recognized event and get a true sense of what a triathlon is all about. It’s a great opportunity to give beginners the chance to race with some of the sport’s biggest names.”
St Anthony’s Triathlon is billed as the sport’s first major race of the triathlon season. It typically attracts a wide range of professional and amateur athletes including Olympic gold medallists, Ironman world champions and celebrity athletes.
The triathlon, which is entering its fourth year as a part of the World Triathlon Corporation’s (WTC) 5150 Triathlon Series, is also one of the first WTC events of the year. The St Anthony’s Triathlon also serves as the USA Triathlon Florida Regional Championship, qualifying athletes for USAT Nationals, as well as the HyVee 5150 Championship.
St Anthony’s Triathlon celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2013 and approximately 3,500 athletes from more than 44 US states and 23 countries participated in that event. The roster included 90 pro athletes 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$45 by 31 Jan 2014; US$50 after 31 Jan. Late registration US$60.
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$160 by 31 Dec 2013; US$165 by 28 Feb 2014; US$170 by 31 Mar 2014. Late registration US$180.)
St Anthony’s Sprint Distance race, North Shore & Vinoy Parks
400m swim, 20K bike, 5K run. Approximately 08:45 start time.
(Individual registration fee: US$65 by 31 Dec 2013; US$75 by 28 Feb 2014; US$85 by 31 Mar 2014. Late registration US$90)
