Top Para-Triathletes Selected to Represent United States

USA Triathlon has announced an 11 strong team of Para-triathltes to represent the national team in 2011.

This decorated group has combined for 14 medals and eight world titles at the ITU Para-triathlon World Championships. Seven of these 11 inspirational athletes have reached the podium at the world championship level, and five earned national titles at the 2010 USA Para-triathlon National Championship.

Two-time world champions named in the 2011 squad include Ivonne Mosquera-Schmidt (TRI-6, Philadelphia, Pa.), Beth Price (TRI-3, Spanish Fort, Ala.), Sarah Reinertsen (TRI-2, Mission Viejo, Calif.) and Aaron Scheidies (TRI-6, Seattle, Wash.).

Melissa Stockwell (TRI-2, Chicago, Ill.), a world champion in 2010 and last year's USA Para-triathlon Athlete of the Year returns to the team for a second straight season.

Additional world championship medalists on the squad include three-time silver medal winner Scout Bassett (TRI-2, Los Angeles, Calif.) and Craig Vogtsberger (TRI-3, Highlands Ranch, Colo.), who earned silver in 2010 in Budapest.

First-time USA Para-triathlon National Team members for 2011 include Michael Johnston (TRI-5, San Diego, Calif.), Vogtsberger and Patricia Walsh (TRI-6, Seattle, Wash.). Johnston finished seventh in his debut at the ITU World Championships in 2010. Walsh posted the fastest time in the Physically Challenged Open Division at the 2010 Nautica New York City Triathlon.

With the aim of achieving optimal results at the USA Para-triathlon National Championship and the ITU Para-triathlon World Championships, the USA Para-triathlon National Team is composed of athletes with proven performance capability at domestic and international triathlons.

Members of the team are eligible for a travel stipend for the 2011 ITU Para-triathlon World Championships in Beijing, as well as performance bonuses from the World Championship event.

"This year's USA Para-triathlon National Team looks really solid," said Jon Beeson, co-chairman of USA Triathlon's Para-triathlon Committee. "We're especially strong on the women's side with the likes of Melissa Stockwell, Sarah Reinertsen and Robin Caruso on board.

"The men are led by Craig Vogtsberger, Joel Rosinbum and Michael Johnston, all veterans of last year's ITU World Championships in Budapest. Paralympic inclusion has many countries sending athletes to the worlds for the first time, so Beijing will be a tough test. We'll be ready."

Excitement surrounding the sport of Para-triathlon is at an all-time high, as the International Paralympic Committee announced in December 2010 that the sport of will officially make its debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

2011 USA Para-triathlon National Team

Scout Bassett, TRI-2, Los Angeles, Calif.

Robin Caruso, TRI-4, Ridgefield, Conn.

Michael Johnston, TRI-5, San Diego, Calif.

Ivonne Mosquera-Schmidt, TRI-6, Philadelphia, Pa.

Beth Price, TRI-3, Spanish Fort, Ala.

Sarah Reinertsen, TRI-2, Mission Viejo, Calif.

Joel Rosinbum, TRI-4, Portland, Ore.

Aaron Scheidies, TRI-6, Seattle, Wash.

Melissa Stockwell, TRI-2, Chicago, Ill.

Craig Vogtsberger, TRI-3, Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Patricia Walsh, TRI-6, Seattle, Wash.