COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Feb. 1, 2002) - The USA Triathlon Board of Directors voted Thursday to increase the size of the age group team being sent to Cancun, Mexico, to compete at the 2002 International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Triathlon Championships. The size of each
individual age group team will be increased from 12 to 14.

USA Triathlon will add one more qualifier to each age group from the 2001 USA Triathlon National Triathlon Championships in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. There will also be seven Team USA spots up for grabs in each age group at the 2002 Age Group World Qualifier in Lake Placid, N.Y.

USA Triathlon will notify those who qualified in Coeur d'Alene. They will have one week to accept the spot. The 2002 ITU world championships will be Nov. 9-10 in Cancun, Mexico.

Earlier this year, the ITU voted to allow countries to send 18 team members in each age group. However, the USA Triathlon Board was concerned about the impact a drastic increase might have on team costs and uniform distribution. Once the impact has been gauged, the team may
be increased incrementally.