Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Youtube
TikTok
Newsletter Subscribe
Tri Santa Cruz to host 2016 USA Para-triathlon Nationals
Held in August, the Championships is likely Team USA’s last competition before Rio 2016. 14 Feb 2016
USA's Melissa Stockwell winning the TRI-2 race during the ITU Para-Triathlon World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand.
The 2016 USA Para-triathlon National Championships will take place on 14 August in Santa Cruz, California, ahead of September’s Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
National titles will be up for grabs in five sport classes, and athletes will compete on a 750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run course at Cowell Beach and Depot Park. The event will likely feature members of the US Paralympic Triathlon Team in their final competition before the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, where para-triathlon will make its debut on 10-11 September.
Among the most competitive classes will be the women’s PT2, which will feature Allysa Seely, Hailey Danisewicz and Melissa Stockwell, who took a one-two-three finish, respectively at the 2015 Para-triathlon World Championships in Chicago.
In addition to chasing national titles, athletes may also qualify for the USA Para-triathlon Development Team Programme, meant to identify and develop athletic potential leading toward the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. More information on the USA Para-triathlon Development Team Programme is available at usatriathlon.org.
“We are incredibly excited to move this event to Santa Cruz, California, and Tri Santa Cruz in 2016,” said Amanda Duke Boulet, USA Para-triathlon Programme Manager. “Tri Santa Cruz is a long-standing event and para-triathletes have been supported by race management for nearly 10 years. This event will showcase some of our nation’s best para-triathletes, whether up-and-coming stars or world-ranked athletes heading to Rio for their Paralympic Games debut.”
Athletes wishing to compete in the 2016 USA Para-triathlon National Championships must be officially classified and must have completed a USA Triathlon or International Triathlon Union (ITU) Sanctioned Event that meets distance and time standards between 1 May 2015 and 17 July 2016. Athletes who are not classified or do not meet the time standards may choose to race in the PC Open division. A National Classification opportunity will be offered in Santa Cruz prior to the event. Complete details on qualification standards and the link to register are available at USA Triathlon's website.
