USA Triathlon has announced the picturesque city of Burlington, Vt., will host the 2011 and 2012 USAT Age Group, Sprint and Elite National Championships. The date of the events has not been determined, but organizers expect the events to be held in August in both 2011 and 2012 at a venue near Lake Champlain and Battery Park.
"On behalf of USA Triathlon, we are thrilled to be bringing our National Championships to Burlington in 2011 and 2012," said USA Triathlon CEO Skip Gilbert. "The athletes will face a very difficult course putting their athleticism to the full test. On a more personal note, as a graduate of the University of Vermont, I can't say enough great things about Burlington, the community and I'm confident that our members will find this a championship weekend they won't want to miss."
The USA Triathlon Age Group and Sprint National Championships feature the top amateur athletes in the U.S. competing for national titles in their age groups as well as spots on Team USA to compete in the 2012 ITU World Championships in London. The 2010 Age Group, Sprint and Elite National Championship events will take place in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Course distances for each event:
Age Group National Championship - 1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run
Sprint National Championship - 750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run
Elite National Championship - 1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run; conducted in the Olympic-style format of racing - draft-legal with multiple loops
Burlington is located on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain against the backdrop of the Green Mountains and is the largest city in the state of Vermont. Climate for the month of August is mild with an average high of 78 degrees and an average low of 58, according to the National Weather Service.
The city offers athletes the convenience of Burlington International Airport, a 15-minute drive from the venue. Area attractions include the Church Street Marketplace, downtown Burlington's open air mall featuring historical architecture, dining, shopping, year-round festivals, street entertainers, music and more. Burlington also is home to the University of Vermont.
The USAT National Championship weekend will include a Health & Fitness Expo to be held at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center where athletes, spectators and the general public will be able to browse through the offerings of dozens of exhibitors, all in the comfortable surroundings of the host hotel. The expo will feature a variety of items needed to enjoy an active lifestyle and it will also offer a number of homegrown Vermont products.
USAT is pleased to partner with the Burlington community and RunVermont, home of the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon, to bring this prestigious event to the shores of Lake Champlain.
"We are pleased to be the first course in the Northeast to host this event," said Rick Milliken, the General Manager of the Doubletree Hotel Burlington and past Chairman of the Vermont State Sports Council. "Burlington's combination of Lake Champlain scenery in an urban setting provides a spectacular landscape for the competition."
In the summer, the Burlington region offers outdoor activities like kayaking, fishing, sailing, hiking, cycling and more.
