Youth, Junior & U23 Development
Developing the future of the sport
With several programs for Youth, Junior and U23 athletes, USA Triathlon is here to support the development of young athletes as they dream, plan and reach their goals.
Youth & Junior Elite
Talented Youth (ages 13-15) and Junior (ages 16-19) athletes have the opportunity to learn from the best USA Triathon Certified Coaches, join a high performance team and race elite competition to help fuel their development in the sport.
Most Junior Elites are encouraged to finish out their eligibility in the junior division before advancing to the U23 races, which are often competed at the longer Olympic-distance.
Learn more below and for more information, please email juniors@usatriathlon.org.
U23
The Under-23 or “U23” division is a bridge between Junior Elite, Collegiate (Draft-Legal) and Elite competition. To compete in the U23 division, an athlete must hold a USAT Elite License and be between the ages of 18 and 23 as of Dec. 31 of the competition year. Most U23 races are subdivisions within World Triathlon Continental Cups.
U23 athletes compete in draft-legal races at the sprint-distance (750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run) and Olympic-distance (1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run).
Athletes interested in racing U23 are encouraged to start with USA Triathlon's designated U23 Elite and National Triathlon Development Races (U23/NTDR), collegiate draft-legal events, and NCAA Women's events.
USA Triathlon 2024 Youth & Junior Triathlon Development Race Series
2024 USAT Junior Program Guide
Event Name | Date | Location | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
April 14, 2024 | Fort Worth, TX | |||
| East Coast Triathlon Festival | May 5, 2024 | Richmond, VA | ||
| Pleasant Prairie Cup | June 2, 2024 | Pleasant Prairie, WI | ||
| Jenny Lee Tri Cup | June 15-16, 2024 | Beaver Falls, PA | ||
July 14-15, 2024 | West Des Moines, IA |
Youth and Junior Nationals (draft-legal) Qualification
The USA Triathlon Youth and Junior Development Series provides a pathway for athletes to qualify for the draft-legal 2024 Youth and Junior Nationals July 12-14 in West Des Moines, Iowa. There are 75 National Championship qualifying spots available, per gender, for Youth (ages 13-15) and Juniors (ages 16-19).
Youth (ages 13-15) and Junior (ages 16-19) athletes qualify to compete at the 2023 Zone3 Youth and Junior Nationals (draft-legal) by finishing in the top-18 for juniors and top 19 for youth at ANY 2023 USAT Youth and Junior Development Series Race (excluding athletes already qualified and/or athletes representing other National Federations).
Only athletes representing USA are eligible for direct qualification to Nationals at a 2023 USA Triathlon Youth and Junior Development Series Race.
2024 Triathlon Talent Development Race Series provides competitive draft-legal race opportunities in the U.S. for Elite Development athletes to earn a USA Triathlon Elite License and gain valuable experience.
Non-Elites over the age of 25 may be permitted to race if and when USAT and the Race Director determine that space is available in the field.
Event Name | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Tritonman | Feb. 10, 2024 | Mission Bay, CA |
| Clermont Draft Legal Challenge | March 2, 2024 | Clermont, FL |
| East Coast Triathlon Festival | May 4, 2024 | Richmond, VA |
| Jenny Lee Tri Cup | June 15, 2024 | Beaver Falls, PA |
Camps and Clinics
Junior/U23 Development Teams
2024 U.S. Team Selection Criteria
