USAT Qualifying for Duathlon World Championships
from
Mike McCormick
on
November 11, 2008
View comments about this article!
Duathletes competing in the 2009 USAT Duathlon National Championships in
Richmond, VA on April 25-26 can qualify for one of 12 age group slots available
for the ITU Duathlon Short Course World Championships in Concord, NC.
“The USAT Duathlon National Championships in Richmond will offer age group
duathletes a great opportunity to qualify for the national team,” says Jeff
Dyrek, national events director of USA Triathlon. “The Sports Backers organize
a top-notch event on a technical course that has won praise from the sport's
top athletes, and we feel this will be a strong selection process for our
national team.”
Other qualifying events include the Desert Classic in Phoenix, AZ on February
24th, which will have 3 spots per age group rolling down to 6th
place, and the Apple Duathlon in Sartell, MN on May 24th, also with
3 spots per age group rolling down to 6th place. The USAT Duathlon National
Championships will have 12 slots rolling down to 16th place.
Last year, 450 duathletes from around the country competed in the USAT Duathlon
National Championships as pros, age group athletes, sport racers, juniors and
youth racers. The on-road events were part of the two-day National Duathlon
Festival which featured the Off-road Championships events contested by 175
participants. The National Duathlon Festival marks the first time off-road
national championship events have been combined with on-road national
championship events at the same site. The National Duathlon Festival, which is
organized by the Sports Backers, will be in held in Richmond through 2010.
One noteworthy change for the USAT Duathlon Nationals will be the elimination
of $10,000 of prize money for the elite national championships. The aim is to
simplify the qualification process and focus entirely on the age group athletes
preparing for the world championship. In addition, the Sports Backers will
work with area community organizations, sponsors and vendors to create a
festival environment.
The same start, finish and transition area as the 2008 national championships
will be used and a closed bike course very similar to that course will prove
challenging and technical but easy enough for the citizens races. The location
is also easy walking distance from downtown hotels, restaurants and parking.
|
USAT Qualifying for Duathlon World Championships
|
Reply
|
|
by garges329 on November 11, 2008
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
This will be my first time doing them, new to duathlon, but it looks like they've opened up more spots. I will be skipping Boston after 6 consecutive years so I can do this race. How exciting that they will be having Worlds in the US this year. Hope to see some big numbers in participation.
Chris Garges
|
| |
|
USAT Qualifying for Duathlon World Championships
|
Reply
|
|
by roswelltrisports on November 17, 2008
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
Wait just a minute. The U.S. hosting the Du World Championships is great. Having multiple qualifying events for Team USA is good. But discriminating against western and mid-western athletes by giving us only 3 slots per age group at Desert Classic and the Apple while the Easties get 12 at Richmond is not fair. Ok, the Richmond event has the "nationals" designation; but it is not a true national championship; it is open to anyone. Comparing this year's races, it appears to me that the Desert Classic event had almost as many participants as did the Richmond event and the field was just as competitive. So the disparity of number of qualifying slots can not be justified. Please fix this. Also, I don't subscribe to the thought that it is the athletes' responsibility to suport a National Championship with their presence in order to justify the event; it is the responsibility of USAT to grow the sport and produce a national championship and Team USA qualifying system that is worthy of the athletes' participation and support. Thanks for reading.
|
| |
|
USAT Qualifying for Duathlon World Championships
|
Reply
|
|
by kmarsh on November 18, 2008
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
I don't think anyone should complain about the number of slots for Team USA at the other two qualifers. It was originally announced that the National Championship was the only chance to qualify for Team USA. For the past two years east coasties have had to travel to Portland and compete in the triathlon National Championship for Team USA slots. If you want the National Championship to really feel like a National Championship event, with the best athletes competing, then keep it as the Team USA qualifier and move the event around the country every year or two.
|
| |
|
Tri and Du Nationals - not a good comparison
|
Reply
|
|
by roswelltrisports on November 21, 2008
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
Tri and Du Nationals are apples and oranges. Tri Nationals is a closed event open only to qualified athletes; Du Nationals is open to anyone. Tri Nationals works because the numbers make it necessary; not so with duathlon. Arguable the Desert Classic event this year had as competitive of an event as Nationals at Richmond; the 2008 Desert Classic event DID have more elite duathletes than did Richmond. So yes, I think one can complain that the inequality of qualifying slots is contrary to the best interest of USAT selecting the best athletes for the World Championships. I think it is reasonable to be concerned about athletes right and opportunity to compete than with masquerading an event as a true national championship.
|
| |
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to discussions on this article.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
Other Upcoming & News Articles
Update On Duathlon National Championship
USAT To Induct Inaugural Hall of Fame Class
Chilly Cheeks Duathlon Results
Ironman Hawaii on TV Saturday
Ironman Western Australia Results
|
