WEST CHESTER, Ohio — This Saturday and Sunday, youth triathletes ages 7-19 will return to Voice of America Park in West Chester, Ohio, for the Zone3 USA Triathlon Youth & Junior Nationals. The 10th year in West Chester, Zone3 Youth & Junior Nationals welcomes youth athletes of all experience levels to participate in the fun and iconic youth triathlon event.

New for the 2022 event, USA Triathlon is offering a dedicated racing category for athletes with an intellectual impairment. Adding the new category is a part of the organization’s continued efforts to increase opportunities and access for current and prospective youth athletes and encouraging a culture of equality in the sport. All athletes racing in the intellectual impairment wave will receive a free USA Triathlon youth annual membership, donated by the USA Triathlon Foundation.

Racing kicks off Saturday, July 30, at 7 a.m. ET, with the youth age group races for athletes ages 13-18. Athletes will cover a 300-meter swim, non-drafting 10-kilometer bike and 2.5-kilometer run. No qualification is required to participate.

At 9 a.m., the Junior Draft-Legal races get underway for athletes ages 16-19, followed by the Youth Draft-Legal races for athletes ages 13-15 starting at 3:30 p.m. Athletes qualified for these races via their performances in a series of qualifier races.

Youth Draft-Legal athletes will cover a 375m swim, 10k bike and 2.5k run, while Junior Draft-Legal athletes will take on a 750m swim, 20k bike and 5k run. The draft-legal format is similar to the style of racing contested at the Olympic Games and other elite World Triathlon competitions.

Several past and present members of the U.S. Elite Triathlon National Team — including Tokyo 2020 Olympians Kevin McDowell and Taylor Knibb; 2016 U.S. Olympians Ben Kanute and Greg Billington; and World Triathlon U23 and Junior Champion Tamara Gorman — all began their triathlon careers on the youth and junior racing circuits.

On Sunday, July 31, starting at 7 a.m., the youth age group races for athletes ages 7-12 will take place. Athletes ages 7-10 will complete a 100m swim, 5k bike and 1k run, while 11- to 12-year-olds will complete a 200m swim, 10k bike and 2k run. Youth paratriathletes and athletes with intellectual impairments will also compete Sunday morning, taking on the same course as the 11-12 age group.

Qualification is not required to participate in the youth age group races, which are open to athletes ages 7-18 (previously limited to ages 7-15). Emphasizing participation and personal goal setting over competition for the younger age groups, “National Champion” titles will only be awarded to athletes ages 13-18, while athletes ages 7-12 will receive placement awards.

The weekend concludes with the Youth and Junior Mixed Relay. Relay teams are made up of four competitors (two boys, two girls), which each team member completing a 250m swim, draft-legal 5k bike and 1.2k run before tagging off to the next athlete. The Mixed Relay event made its Olympic debut at the Olympics Games Tokyo 2020, with the U.S. team winning the silver medal.

WEBSITE: Visit usatriathlon.org/yjn2022 or download the digital event program for more information on the Zone3 USA Triathlon Youth & Junior Nationals.

COVERAGE: Media, friends and family can follow the race action with the USA Triathlon Events App. The app features athlete tracking, event schedules, live leaderboards and more, and is available for free download on iPhone and Android devices.

LOCATION AND PARKING: All races and awards ceremonies will be held at Voice of America Park, located at 7850 VOA Park Dr., West Chester, OH, 45069. Parking will be available onsite at VOA Park. Click here for complete course and venue maps.

Zone3 USA Triathlon Youth Junior Nationals Headed To West Chester For 10th Year This Weekend

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