USAT Members Get 'Fast Pass' to New Washington, D.C. Race

Washington, D.C. will serve as the only North American stop for The Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series, an eight-city elite triathlon series that will pit the top triathletes in the world in head-to-head competition at renowned international locations.  

The Washington, D.C. race will take place Sunday, June 21 and will be open to both age group and elite triathletes.

USA Triathlon annual members now have exclusive 48-hour early registration access through the Fast Pass program. Check your e-mail for the Fast Pass registration link to take advantage of this opportunity before event registration opens to the public on April 10.

Find out more about the race at www.washingtondc-triathlon.org. Or download this document for fast facts on the elite and age group races.

The June 21 Washington, D.C. race will kick off at 6 a.m. with the USAT-sanctioned age group competition featuring an Olympic distance race (1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run) and sprint distance race (750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run). At 11 a.m., the men’s elite race will begin, with top athletes from around the world representing their countries in a bid to win a World Championship. The women’s elite race begins at 1 p.m.  

All athletes will compete on a course that winds through the Washington, D.C. monumental corridor, competing in the shadow of some of our nation’s most historic memorials and national treasures. The race, which will be broadcast live in some regions, is expected to attract a global audience of 80 million.

“Washington, D.C. is pleased to extend a warm welcome to the International Triathlon Union in support of its World Championship Series,” said Washington, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, a longtime triathlete who plans to compete in the amateur sprint race. “The District of Columbia is honored to be selected as a host city for this Olympic qualifier series, the only one of its kind in Olympic sports. D.C. is proud to join these other world class cities and to showcase its ability to produce an Olympic caliber event.”

According to Marisol Casado, president of the ITU: "The Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Series race in Washington, D.C. will be a monumental occasion for the sport of triathlon, especially in this landmark year when the International Triathlon Union is celebrating its 20th anniversary.”

“The concept of triathlon is thought to have been originally founded in the USA,” added Loreen Barnett, ITU’s Secretary General. “And so with the capital city welcoming a multisport event of this stature to its streets we can all look forward to an exciting weekend of race action and sporting celebration with the people of Washington, D.C."

The 2009 Series kicks off in Tongyeong, South Korea on May 2-3. In addition to Washington, D.C. on June 21, other global stops include Madrid, Spain (May 30-31); Kitzbühel, Austria (July 11-12); Hamburg, Germany (July 25-26); Yokohama, Japan (Aug. 15-16); and London, England (Aug. 22-23), where athletes will get their first look at the 2012 Olympic venue. The series wraps up with the Grand Final in Gold Coast, Australia on September 9-13.

About The Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship
Washington, D.C.
www.washingtondc-triathlon.org
The Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series event in Washington, D.C. is produced by WASHINGTON SPORTS & EVENT MANAGEMENT (producers of The Nation’s Triathlon™, the fastest-growing triathlon in the U.S.) and UPSOLUT (producers of Hamburg City Man, the second largest triathlon in the world). Washington, D.C. is one of eight cities in the series and the only North American stop. The series is sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and will serve as the sole qualification mode for athletes qualifying to represent their country in the 2012 Olympics.

Media Contact
Jennifer Devlin, 703-876-1714
Jennifer.devlin@cox.net