MILWAUKEE — A record field of more than 6,000 amateur triathletes will descend on Milwaukee this Friday, Aug. 6, through Sunday, Aug. 8, for the Toyota USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships. Milwaukee returns as the host of Age Group Nationals after welcoming the event for three consecutive years from 2013-15. The previous Age Group Nationals participation record of 5,789 was also in Milwaukee, in 2014.

Age Group Nationals is USA Triathlon’s largest and longest-running National Championship event. Contested since 1983, the event annually draws the nation’s fastest age-group triathletes hailing from all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

The main venue for all races is adjacent to the Milwaukee Art Museum, Henry Maier Festival Park and Discovery World along the shore of Lake Michigan. Athletes will swim in Lake Michigan, which provides cool water temperatures and a breakwater in Milwaukee’s bay. The bike course traverses the Daniel Hoan Memorial Bridge and the Lake Freeway, which will be closed to traffic during the event. The run course travels out along Lake Michigan on paved trails through the scenic Veterans Park, returning on the shaded Lincoln Memorial Drive.

The racing action begins Friday at 11 a.m. CT with an Open Water Swim competition, in which athletes will cover a 750-meter course in Lake Michigan. Registration is required, but athletes do not need to qualify to compete in the Open Water Swim.

Qualification is required for Saturday’s Olympic-Distance National Championships (1,500m swim, 40k bike, 10k run) and Sunday’s Sprint National Championships (750m swim, 20k bike, 10k run), via a competitive age-group finish in a previous USA Triathlon-sanctioned event. Each race also includes a Time to Tri Open wave that does not require qualification and is not included in the National Championship results. Sunday’s sprint race also includes a PC Open division for adaptive athletes.

The Olympic-Distance National Championships are set for Saturday, with athletes going off in staggered waves starting at 7 a.m. through 9:45 a.m., ending with the Time to Tri Open wave. Racing will conclude by 1:05 p.m.

Sunday’s Sprint National Championships begin at 7 a.m., with wave starts continuing though 9:18 a.m. The Time to Tri Open and PC Open waves are last. Sunday’s racing will conclude by 11:35 a.m.

In both National Championship races, athletes will be chasing national titles in their respective age groups. Top finishers in each age group will also earn the opportunity to represent Team USA at the 2022 World Triathlon Age Group Championships in Montreal, Canada (Sprint, Super-Sprint) and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (Olympic-Distance). For more information about Team USA, comprised of the nation’s top amateur triathletes who represent Team USA in World Championship competition, visit usatriathlon.org/teamusa.

Several athletes will be back to defend their age-group national titles from 2019 (the race was not held in 2020 due to COVID-19). Returning Olympic-distance national champions include Ginger Reiner (Lincoln, Ma., F40-44 and Masters Female); Linda Robb (Juno Beach, Fla., F55-59 and Grand Masters Female); Tony Schiller (Eden Prairie, Minn., M60-64 and Grand Masters Male); Samantha Joray (Buleson, Texas, F17-19, aging up to F20-24); Connor Reichel (Corydon, Ind., M17-19, aging up to M20-24); Abbie Sullivan (Canandaigua, N.Y., F20-24, aging up to F25-29); Dani Fischer (Greenfield, Ind., F30-34); Roger Thompson (Spokane, Wash., M45-49, aging up to M50-54); Adrienne Leblanc (Scottsdale, Ariz., F50-54); Lee Walther (Oklahoma City, Okla., M55-59, aging up to M60-64); Robyn Williams (Loveland, Ohio, F60-64); Gregory Taylor (Yankton, S.D., M65-69); Marylynne Caruso (Fort Worth, Texas, F75-79); Robert Plant (Woodside, Calif., M75-79); Eileen Croissant (Greeley, Colo., F80-84); and Lockett Wood (Lyons, Colo., M80-84).

Returning sprint-distance national champions include Reiner (F40-44 and Masters Female); Robert Skaggs (Solana Beach, Calif., M50-54, aging up to M55-59, and Masters Male); Schiller (M60-64 and Grand Masters Male); Alexandra Poole (Farmington, Conn., F17-19); Carter Brand (Castle Pines, Colo., M17-19); Fischer (F30-34); Brian Reynolds (Richland, Mich., M30-34); Lauren McGinnis (Muskego, Wis., F50-54); Walther (M55-59, aging up to M60-64); Sharon Johnson (Andover, Mass., F60-64); Carol Brown (Glenview, Ill., F65-69); Taylor (M65-69); Kathy Calabretta (Ludington, Mich., F70-74); Frederick Ferraro (Austin, Texas, M70-74); Tom Montemagni (Stratton, Vt., M75-79); Sharon Roggenbuck (Hillsborough, N.C., F80-84); and Wood (M80-84).

COVID-19 SAFETY
Age Group Nationals will be held with COVID-19 safety measures in place according to USA Triathlon’s Safe Return to Multisport guidelines, which include self-screening before arrival at the venue; face coverings encouraged for unvaccinated individuals and required for indoor awards ceremonies, Team USA processing and the KT Tape Team USA Lounge; contact reduction for athletes, officials, staff and volunteers; and increased cleaning and disinfecting practices onsite. Additional details regarding COVID-19 safety can be found on the Age Group Nationals event page at usatriathlon.org/agnc2021.

LIVESTREAM AND TRACKING APP: The Toyota USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships will be livestreamed starting at 6:50 a.m. CT for both the Olympic-distance and Sprint events at this link and at youtube.com/usatriathlon. An archive of both event livestreams will also be available at youtube.com/usatriathlon after the races. Media, friends and family can also follow the action at Age Group Nationals with the USA Triathlon Events App. The app features athlete tracking, event schedules, live leaderboards and more, and is available for download on iPhone and Android devices. Live race coverage will also be available on Twitter @USATLive and Instagram @usatriathlon.

LOCATION AND PARKING: The main venue for Age Group Nationals is 500 Harbor Dr., Milwaukee, WI 53202. Awards ceremonies will take place in the Hyatt Regency – Regency Ballroom, located at 333 W. Kilbourn Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53203. There is no parking onsite at the race venue. Media are encouraged to park in the paid garage across the street from the venue on Michigan St., west of Lincoln Memorial. Additional parking options are available here.

MEDIA CREDENTIALS: Media interested in covering the events in Milwaukee should contact Caryn Maconi, USA Triathlon Marketing & Public Relations Senior Manager, at caryn.maconi@usatriathlon.org or 443-534-5954 to reserve a credential. There is no deadline to request, but credentials must be picked up at the red USA Triathlon finish-line announcer’s tent on Thursday or Friday of race week or on race mornings before starting coverage.

For more information about the Toyota USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships, visit usatriathlon.org/agnc2021 or download the digital event program.

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 and paratriathlon in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,000 events and connects with more than 400,000 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).

Record Field for Toyota USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships in Milwaukee This Weekend

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