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COVID-19 Update: Youth & Junior Nationals Canceled
As the situation regarding COVID-19 continues to evolve, we are writing to provide an update regarding the 2020 USA Triathlon Youth & Junior Nationals, which were scheduled for Aug. 1-2 in West Chester, Ohio. Please know that the health, safety and well-being of you and the sport’s entire community is our highest priority.
USA Triathlon has made the difficult decision to officially cancel the 2020 Youth & Junior Nationals. Considering USA Triathlon’s best practices for a safe return to racing, the event could not be held in a responsible way for youth athletes without sacrificing the spirit and camaraderie of race weekend.
Canceling events is never an easy decision to make, and we know this news is extremely disappointing to many of you. Please know that this cancelation was made with the safety of the entire community in mind, including West Chester’s most vulnerable populations.
Because these are unprecedented circumstances, USA Triathlon is temporarily adjusting our policy to allow athletes to defer their registration to future events.
With a deadline of September 16, athletes who were registered for the Youth Age Group Race at 2020 Youth & Junior Nationals may elect to transfer their registration to one of the following USA Triathlon-owned events (age minimums apply):
- 2021 or 2022 Youth & Junior Nationals (Youth Age Group Race)
- 2021 or 2022 Legacy Triathlon or Open Water Swim Competition
- 2021 or 2022 Duathlon National Championships
- 2021 or 2022 Toyota USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships (qualification required) or Open Water Swim Competition
- 2021 or 2022 Collegiate Club National Championships (if eligible according to the Collegiate Competitive Rules)
Please visit the registration page for complete step-by-step instructions on how to defer your registration to one of the above events.
Youth & Junior Nationals will return to West Chester’s Voice of America Park on July 31-Aug. 1, 2021 and July 30-31, 2022.
For more information about each of these events, including their dates and locations for 2021, visit usatriathlon.org/nationalchampionships. Dates and locations for most 2022 events are still to be determined.
We appreciate your flexibility and understanding during this unprecedented time, and we hope to see you at another starting line soon!
American Development Model (ADM) Adjustments
Beginning in 2020, Youth & Junior Nationals will see several changes to align with the American Development Model (ADM), a concerted effort between the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and its sport National Governing Bodies to apply long-term athlete development principles in a way that resonates with the culture of sport in the United States. The ADM aims to create early positive experiences for youth athletes across all sports by promoting sustained sport participation. Emphasis is placed on developmentally appropriate activities, including foundational skill development, coordination and motor control. Click here to read the full press release about the changes to Youth & Junior Nationals.
The major adjustments to Youth & Junior Nationals include:
- The word “Championships” will be removed from the overall event name (Youth & Junior Nationals) in an effort to emphasize participation and personal goal setting over competition for younger age groups.
- The youth age group race is now open to athletes up to age 18 (previously limited to ages 7-15).
- National Champion titles will only be awarded to athletes ages 13-18. Athletes aged 7-12 will still receive placement awards, five places deep. In the PC Open division, the top male and female finishers overall will earn national champion titles.
- The Youth and Junior Elite and Mixed Relay races will remain in the same format as previous years.
- All athletes will record their goal times for their races as part of the registration process. A “goal time board” will also be available at the venue for athletes to write down their goals and finishing times. As part of the ADM, this process encourages athletes to focus on advancing their personal bests versus placement relative to other athletes.
- Starting in 2021, the High School National Championships, historically held in conjunction with the Collegiate Club National Championships, will be removed from USA Triathlon's championship schedule. High school-aged athletes will be encouraged to participate in either the youth age group or junior elite races at Youth and Junior Nationals.
- In 2020 and beyond, there are slight adjustments to the schedule to accommodate the older athletes.