U.S. Junior Triathlete Reese Vannerson Wins 2024 Junior Americas Triathlon Championship in Miami
by USA Triathlon
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — U.S. men’s and women’s Junior triathletes showed a glimpse of the fast future of the sport on Friday, March 8 at the 2024 Americas Triathlon Championships Miami, hosted by CLASH Endurance at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
U.S. Junior Reese Vannerson won the men’s Junior Americas Championship, completing the sprint-distance course in a time of 50 minutes, 42 seconds. Vannerson is a member of USA Triathlon’s elite development squad Project Podium that trains up-and-comers and LA 2028 Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls in a group environment in Tempe, Arizona.
Vannerson was the top U.S. finisher at the 2023 Junior World Championships, placing sixth. Also a U.S. Junior Elite national champion, Vannerson has a strong running background with Texas 6A state titles in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters. On Friday, he ran the 5k in a field-best 15:11.
Mexico’s Osvaldo Darell Zuñiga Fierro placed second on Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway in a time of 50:55 and Vinicius Avi Santana of Brazil took third in 51:04.
The 2024 Americas Triathlon Championships Miami welcomed the top Junior, Elite, U23 and Para athletes from national federations of Americas Triathlon, a continental division of World Triathlon that includes federations in North, Central and South America. Up for grabs on Friday was the opportunity to qualify country quota spots for the World Championships in October in Spain. Up to three spots per country for athletes who finish in the top 14 were available.
The U.S. Junior women qualified the full quota of three women for the Junior World Championships, as Ellison Wolfe (sixth), Mia Wentzy (ninth) and Ava Pfaff (10th) all finished among the top 14. Wolfe, who finished in a time of 57:19, also qualified for USA Triathlon’s Mallow Junior/U23 National Team, a women’s and men’s high performance developmental team named after USA Triathlon Foundation donors Audra and Michael Mallow.
Canada’s Sidney Clement, Béatrice Filion and Beatrice Normand swept the women’s Junior podium.
Competing in Miami under the World Triathlon flag, but soon to be U.S. athlete Jimena Renata De La Pena Schott placed fourth. She won the silver medal at the 2023 Junior World Championships.
About USA Triathlon
USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon, paratriathlon, and indoor and virtual multisport events in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 3,500 races and connects with more than 300,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Triathlon Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of World Triathlon and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).