Reese Vannerson

Name: Reese Vannerson

Sport: Triathlon

Birthdate: 01/04/2005

Hometown: Sugar Land, Texas

Current Residence: Tempe, Ariz.

College: Arizona State University

Personal

Reese Vannerson grew up in Sugar Land, Texas, just outside Houston, alongside his two older brothers and parents in the home they still live in today. He now trains and studies in Tempe, Arizona, where he’s pursuing a marketing degree at Arizona State University while training with Coach Parker Spencer on Project Podium. In the summer, he trains in Park City, Utah, his favorite place to ride.

Family has played a big role in shaping Vannerson’s outlook. His late grandfather, an Apollo 7 astronaut and U.S. Air Force Colonel, had a lasting influence on him, instilling the importance of hard work, discipline, and keeping family close. Reese is also passionate about giving back, supporting the Be an Angel charity through an annual run, an organization his grandmother is deeply involved with that serves children in the community.

Reese was introduced to triathlon at the Houston Kids Triathlon in 2013, racing alongside his childhood best friends. What hooked him was the sport’s honesty: you get out exactly what you put in. He also loves the tight-knit community, noting that many of his closest friends have come through triathlon. Watching the 2012 Olympics and later the Rio 2016 triathlon, especially Gwen Jorgensen’s historic win, helped cement his belief in what the sport could be and where it could take him.

Career Highlights

2025: Reese has a breakout season, opening up in Napier with a fifth place finish at the World Triathlon Cup • He has two back-to-back first place finishes at the Americas Triathlon Cups La Paz and Miami • His breakthrough performance came in China at the World Triathlon Cup Chengdu, his highest elite performance in his young career • He placed second at the Americas Triathlon Cup Kelowna • He placed eighth at the World Triathlon Championship Finals Wollongong • He placed fifth at the World Triathlon Cup Vina del Mar • He finished his 2025 season with an eighth place finish at the World Triathlon Cup San Pedro de la Paz.

2024: He started the 2024 season with a powerful first place finish at the Americas Triathlon Championships Miami • He placed first at the Americas Triathlon Cup Barbados • He placed sixth at the Americas Triathlon Cup Calima • He placed 11th at the World Triathlon Cup Huatulco • He was the USA Triathlon Junior National Championships champion, placing first in the junior men's category • He traveled the Dominican Republic where he placed second in the Americas Triathlon Cup and Central America Caribbean Championships Puna Cana • He placed seventh at the World Triathlon Cup Valencia, his first World Triathlon Cup top-ten finish • He placed second in the junior category at the World Triathlon Championship Finals Torremolinos-Andalucia, later placing eighth alongside his teammates in the Mixed Relay.

2023: Vannerson kicked off his season with an eighth place finish at the Americas Triathlon North American Junior Championships Sarasota • He placed sixth at the World Triathlon Sprint and Relay Championships Hamburg, later placing seventh in the Mixed Relay.

2022: Reese kicked off his elite career at the Americas Triathlon Junior North Americas Championship Sarasota-Bradenton where he placed fourth • He placed first at the Europe Triathlon Junior Cup Dusseldorf, his first elite medal • He placed third in the individual race at the World Triathlon Sprint and Relay Championships Montreal, and placed tenth alongside his teammates in the relay • He placed eighth in the Americas Triathlon Cup Long Beach • He placed 11th at the Americas Triathlon Cup Vina del Mar.