Kajlich, Walsh named USA Para-Triathlon Athletes of the Year

Andre Kajlich and Patricia Walsh, both No. 1 in the ITU world rankings, were named the top American para-triathletes of 2012. 29 Jan 2013
Imagen
A picture of a man without leg cycling in a hand-cycle

USA's Andre Kajlich competing in the 2012 ITU Para-Triathlon World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand.

ⒸGetty Images
By IPC

“On behalf of USA Triathlon, I’d like to congratulate our USA Para-Triathlon Athletes of the Year, Patricia Walsh and Andre Kajlich, as well as all of our inspirational para-triathletes for an amazing 2012 season.”

USA Triathlon on Monday (28 January) honoured world championship medallists Patricia Walsh and Andre Kajlich as their 2012 USA Para-Triathlon athletes of the Year.

The accolades were selected by the USA Triathlon Age Group Committee.

An honourable mention Athlete of the Year selection a year ago, Walsh ended the 2012 season as the world’s No. 1-ranked para-triathlete in the women’s TRI-6 category, according to the International Triathlon Union (ITU).

She won TRI-6 titles at the 2012 USA Para-Triathlon National Championships and the PATCO Para-Triathlon Championships before earning the bronze medal at the 2012 ITU Para-Triathlon World Championships.

Also an honourable mention pick in 2011, Kajlich is currently ranked No. 1 in the men’s TRI-1 category, according to the ITU. He was a runner-up finisher at the USA Para-Triathlon Nationals and the ITU Para-Triathlon World Championships and captured gold at the 2012 PATCO Para-Triathlon Championships.

Additionally, Kajlich won the handcycle category at the 2012 Ironman World Championships and Ironman 70.3 World Championships.

“On behalf of USA Triathlon, I’d like to congratulate our USA Para-Triathlon Athletes of the Year, Patricia Walsh and Andre Kajlich, as well as all of our inspirational para-triathletes for an amazing 2012 season,” said Amanda Duke, USA Triathlon’s Para-Triathlon Programme Manager.

“We enjoyed outstanding performances in domestic and international competition and look forward to introducing more athletes to our sport as we build toward Paralympic inclusion in 2016.”

On the women’s side, 2012 national and world champions Patricia Collins (TRI-5) and Melissa Stockwell (TRI-2) claimed honourable mention accolades.

Jamie Brown (TRI-5) and Matt Perkins (TRI-2), who both finished on the podium at the 2012 national and world championships, were chosen as the men’s honourable mention selections.

Historically a world leader in para-triathlon, USA led the medal count by capturing 13 of a possible 36 medals at the 2012 ITU Para-Triathlon World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand.

Para-triathlon will make its Paralympic Games debut in Rio in 2016.