Vermont to Host 2011-12 USAT Age Group, Elite and Sprint National Championships

guest — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:24:17 GMT

Press Release

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- USA Triathlon has announced the picturesque city of Burlington, Vermont, will host the 2011 and 2012 USAT Age Group, Sprint and Elite National Championships.

The date of the events has not been determined, but organizers expect the events to be held in August in both 2011 and 2012 at a venue near Lake Champlain and Battery Park.

"On behalf of USA Triathlon, we are thrilled to be bringing our National Championships to Burlington in 2011 and 2012," said USA Triathlon CEO Skip Gilbert. "The athletes will face a very difficult course putting their athleticism to the full test. On a more personal note, as a graduate of the University of Vermont, I can't say enough great things about Burlington, the community and I'm confident that our members will find this a championship weekend they won't want to miss."

The USA Triathlon Age Group and Sprint National Championships feature the top amateur athletes in the U.S. competing for national titles in their age groups as well as spots on Team USA to compete in the 2012 ITU World Championships in London. The 2010 Age Group, Sprint and Elite National Championship events will take place in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Course distances for each event:
Age Group National Championship -- 1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run
Sprint National Championship -- 750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run
Elite National Championship -- 1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run; conducted in the Olympic-style format of racing -- draft-legal with multiple loops

Burlington is located on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain against the backdrop of the Green Mountains and is the largest city in the state of Vermont. Climate for the month of August is mild with an average high of 78 degrees and an average low of 58, according to the National Weather Service.

The city offers athletes the convenience of Burlington International Airport, a 15-minute drive from the venue. Area attractions include the Church Street Marketplace, downtown Burlington's open air mall featuring historical architecture, dining, shopping, year-round festivals, street entertainers, music and more. Burlington also is home to the University of Vermont.

The USAT National Championship weekend will include a Health & Fitness Expo to be held at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center where athletes, spectators and the general public will be able to browse through the offerings of dozens of exhibitors, all in the comfortable surroundings of the host hotel. The expo will feature a variety of items needed to enjoy an active lifestyle and it will also offer a number of homegrown Vermont products.

USAT is pleased to partner with the Burlington community and RunVermont, home of the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon, to bring this prestigious event to the shores of Lake Champlain.

"We are pleased to be the first course in the Northeast to host this event," said Rick Milliken, the General Manager of the Doubletree Hotel Burlington and past Chairman of the Vermont State Sports Council. "Burlington's combination of Lake Champlain scenery in an urban setting provides a spectacular landscape for the competition."

In the summer, the Burlington region offers outdoor activities like kayaking, fishing, sailing, hiking, cycling and more.

More information:

USA Triathlon National Events

Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce

Battery Park

RunVermont

About USA Triathlon
USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the national governing body for triathlon--the fastest growing sport in the world--as well as duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States. USAT sanctions 3,100 races and connects with more than 130,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work with athletes, coaches, and race directors on the grassroots level, USAT provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Championships, Pan American Games, and the Olympic Games.

National Cyclocross Championships Kick Off

guest — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:47:05 GMT

Starting Thursday, December 13, and running through Sunday the 16th, the USA Cycling National Cyclocross Championships will feature the best American racers fighting for the stars and stripes jersey.

Of the record total 2,045 competitors registered for the weekend, Ryan Trebon of Corvallis, Oregon, and Katie Compton of Colorado Springs, Colorado, will be back to defend their elite division titles. There are also 13 age-group champions returning to defend titles in nearly 40 races that will take place over the four-day event.

Athletes from 45 states plus the District of Columbia will compete on the almost two-mile course, which features two back-to-back stair sections, each 40 feet long. Placed a quarter-mile from the finish line, the stairs will make for some tight finishes.

Cyclocross is usually very spectator friendly, and the Kansas City course is no different. Several spots points allow viewers to take in the entire race, and heated spectator tents will also be provided (forecasts are for low to mid-30s for the event).

A wide start area, several segments of doubling-back and some tough hills round out what's in store for the riders. The course will be muddy due to winter storms that went through the area at the beginning of the week.

Race Director Bill Marshall said in a press release, "The course is in great shape right now. We had about an inch of snow on the course before this ice storm, but the warmer rain melted it, so now it's a layer of ice. But it's been raining more than anything lately, so it's going to make for pretty muddy conditions for the entire week."

"I think weather always makes racing more interesting," said Georgia Gould, recent winner of the overall Gran Prix of Cyclocross Series and the current U.S. mountain bike national champion. "Mud adds an element of finesse and technical skill over and above simple brute strength. In the end, the winner is the one who makes the fewest mistakes on the slippery course."

Check out www.kccrossnationals.com for race schedules, spectator information, photos, results and more.

Blog Posts From Active Endurance Sports Tagged With national_championships

Vermont to Host 2011-12 USAT Age Group, Elite and Sprint National Championships

National Cyclocross Championships Kick Off