U.S. Elite Triathletes Head to Karlovy Vary for Final WTCS Stop Before World Championships

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Six U.S. Elite Triathletes will line up this Sunday, Sept. 13, at the 2026 World Triathlon Championship Series Karlovy Vary in Czechia. 

Taylor Spivey (Redondo Beach, Calif.) returns on Sunday after placing second, earning a silver medal in 2025. Spivey will be joined by Erika Ackerlund (Helena, Mont.) and up-and-comer and 2025 Pan American Champion Naomi Ruff (West Chicago, Ill.). 

John Reed (Virginia Beach, Va.), who posted a season-best seventh place at WTCS Weihai on Aug. 29, also returns to Karlovy Vary after racing in 2025, and winning the World Triathlon Cup in 2024. Reed is joined in the men’s race by Chase McQueen (Columbus, Ind.) and Keller Norland (Corvallis, Ore.), who will be racing in his first WTCS event. 

While they are not racing this year, the U.S. has a strong history of success in Karlovy Vary. 2016 Olympic gold medalist Gwen Jorgensen (Boulder, Colo.) and fellow Olympian Morgan Pearson (New Vernon, N.J.) each won the 2023 race in Karlovy Vary. Gina Sereno (Madison, Wis.) also earned a medal in 2023, running to bronze. 

Karlovy Vary is one of the toughest Olympic-distance races on the WTCS calendar, beginning with a two-lap, 1.5-kilometer swim in Rolava Lake before athletes take on a grueling 40.8-kilometer bike course featuring seven technically challenging laps and a 20% ascent in every lap. With steep climbs, fast descents and tight turns through the historic town, the bike course demands both strength and technical skill. The race concludes with a 10-kilometer run consisting of four laps through Karlovy Vary’s hilly terrain. 

Fans can watch all WTCS events live or on-demand on TriathlonLIVE.tv. The platform is available on all browsers at www.triathlonlive.tv and the TriathlonLIVE app for Apple and Android smartphones and tablets. TriathlonLIVE is compatible with Chromecast, Apple TV, and Android TV. 

Women’s Race: 10 a.m. local time on Sunday, Sept. 13 (4 a.m. ET/1 a.m. PT) 

Men’s Race: 3 p.m local time on Sunday, Sept. 13 (9 a.m. ET/ 6 a.m. PT) 

For all U.S. elite triathlon news, visit @usatrielite on Instagram. 

WTCS Samarkand | April 26 | Results 

WTCS Yokohama | May 16 | Results 

WTCS Alghero | May 30 | Results 

WTCS Quiberon | June 20-21 | Results 

WTCS Hamburg | July 11-12 | Results 

WTCS London | July 25 | Results 

WTCS Weihai | Aug. 29 | Results 

WTCS Karlovy Vary | Sept. 13 

Championship Finals Pontevedra | Sept. 23-27 

WTCS Abu Dhabi | Postponed to Nov. 13-14 

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 events and races and connects with and supports more than 300,000 unique active 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).