COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — More than 500 of the nation’s top run-bike-run athletes hailing from 41 states are set to compete for national titles and world championship team spots this Saturday and Sunday in Bend, Oregon, at the 2017 USA Triathlon Duathlon National Championships.
Racing begins Saturday at 7:30 a.m. PT with the Non-Drafting Standard-Distance National Championships, which feature a 10-kilometer run, 40k bike and 5k run. The Non-Drafting Sprint-Distance National Championships follow at 1:05 p.m. PT, with athletes covering a 5k run, 20k bike and 2.5k run.
New in 2017, Duathlon Nationals will also include a Draft-Legal Sprint-Distance World Qualifier, scheduled for Sunday at 7:30 a.m. PT. This race, which has been held as a separate event in prior years, features a 5k run, draft-legal 20k bike and 2.5k run. All races are set to take place at Summit High School.
Twelve athletes will be back to defend their 2016 national titles in the standard-distance race, including Jesse Dunn (male overall and M25-29), Kirsten Sass (female overall and F35-39), Evan Pardi (M20-24), Jennifer Scudiero (F30-34), Jacqueline Sasaki (F40-44), Thomas Woods (M45-49), Marcus Alexander (M50-54), Bob Rosemeyer (M60-64), Vicki McCloskey (F65-69), Bob Becker (M65-69), Kerry Mayer (M70-74) and Lockett Wood (M75-79).
Seventeen returning champions from the 2016 sprint-distance national championship include Keith Jackson (male overall and M20-24), Sarah Barber (female overall and F40-44), Patrick Wells (M15-19), Karah Osterberg (F25-29), Adam Goulet (M30-34), Sass (F35-39), Brian Schur (M40-44), Woods (M45-49), Christine Quantz (F45-49), Kerry Ferrell (M55-59), Valerie Eipper (F55-59), Russ Jones (M60-64), Patricia Driscoll (F60-64), Sharon Gerl (F65-69), Kenneth Fleischhacker (M80-84), Lew Hollander (M85+) and Madonna Buder (F85+).
Finally, 11 athletes who won their age groups at the 2016 Draft-Legal Duathlon World Qualifier will race in Bend, including Sass (female overall and F35-39), Kaytlynn Welsch (F15-19), Renee Harrington (F30-34), Michael O’Riley (M45-49), Ute Nestler (F45-49), Mark Hecox (M50-54), Jocelyn Shilling (F55-59), Driscoll (F60-64), Keith Woodward (M65-69), Diane Kerns (F65-69) and Wood (M75-79).
For all three races, top finishers will qualify to represent Team USA at the 2018 ITU Multisport World Championships Festival in Odense, Denmark. For the standard-distance duathlon, the top 18 finishers in each age group after the age-up rule is applied, rolling down to 25th place, will be awarded spots on Team USA. In the non-drafting sprint race, the top six men and top six women in each age group after the age-up rule is applied will qualify for Team USA.
In the draft-legal sprint world qualifier, the top 12 men and women in each age group after the age-up rule is applied, rolling down to 25th, will qualify. For more information about Team USA qualification, visit usatriathlon.org/teamusa.
For the first time, Duathlon Nationals participants and fans can access event information via USA Triathlon’s National Events App. The app, which features athlete tracking, schedules, selfie filters and more, is available now for free download on iPhone and Android devices. For more information, visit usatriathlon.org/eventsapp.
The complete schedule, as well as course maps, can be found at usatriathlon.org/usatdu17, and live event coverage will be available at usatriathlon.org/usatdu17coverage. To apply for media credentials, please fill out the USA Triathlon National Events Media Credential Request Form.
Standard-Distance Defending Champions
Evan Pardi (M20-24, Yachats, Ore.)
Jesse Dunn (M25-29 and male overall, Logan, Utah)
Jennifer Scudiero (F30-34, Eagan, Minn.)
Kirsten Sass (F35-39 and female overall, McKenzie, Tenn.)
Jacqueline Sasaki (F40-44, Chico, Calif.)
Thomas Woods (M45-49, Lincoln, Neb.)
Marcus Alexander (M50-54, Chapel Hill, N.C.)
Bob Rosemeyer (M60-64, Carlsbad, Calif.)
Vicki McCloskey (F65-59, Henniker, N.H.)
Bob Becker (M65-69, Midlothian, Va.)
Kerry Mayer (M70-74, Brookfield, Wis.)
Lockett Wood (M75-79, Lyons, Colo.)
Sprint-Distance Defending Champions
Patrick Wells (M15-19, Burbank, Calif.)
Keith Jackson (M20-24, Roseland, Va.)
Karah Osterberg (F25-29, North Aurora, Ill.)
Adam Goulet (M30-34, Portland, Ore.)
Kirsten Sass (F35-39, McKenzie, Tenn.)
Sarah Barber (F40-44 and female overall, Boise, Idaho)
Brian Schur (M40-44, Kennewick, Wash.)
Christine Quantz (F45-59, Soap Lake, Wash.)
Thomas Woods (M45-49, Lincoln, Neb.)
Kerry Ferrell (M55-59, Auburn, Wash.)
Valerie Eipper (F55-59, Longmont, Colo.)
Patricia Driscoll (F60-64, Stowe, Vt.)
Russ Jones (M60-64, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
Sharon Gerl (F65-69, Springfield, Ore.)
Kenneth Fleischhacker (M80-84, Littleton, Colo.)
Madonna Buder (F85-89, Spokane, Wash.)
Lew Hollander (M85-89, Redmond, Ore.)
Draft-Legal World Qualifier Defending Champions
Kaytlynn Welsch (F5-19, Alvin, Tex.)
Renee Harrington (F30-34, Raleigh, N.C.)
Kirsten Sass (F35-39 and female overall, McKenzie, Tenn.)
Ute Nestler (F45-49, Plano, Tex.)
Michael O’Riley (M45-49, Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Mark Hecox (M50-54, Salem, N.H.)
Jocelyn Shilling (F55-59, Saylorsburg, Pa.)
Patricia Driscoll (F60-64, Stowe, Vt.)
Diane Kerns (F65-69, Portland, Ore.)
Keith Woodward (M65-69, Stowe, Vt.)
Lockett Wood (M75-79, Lyons, Colo.)
USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon and paratriathlon in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,300 races and connects with nearly 500,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work with athletes, coaches, and race directors on the grassroots level, USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the ITU and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).