PENTICTON, B.C. — The first-ever ITU Multisport World Championships Festival came to a close on Sunday in Penticton, with U.S. athletes earning 151 total medals across six multisport disciplines. Of those 151, 61 were gold, 50 were silver and 40 were bronze.
The competition kicked off on Saturday, Aug. 19, and continued through Sunday, Aug. 27, with an every-other-day racing schedule. U.S. athletes battled for world championship crowns in sprint and standard-distance duathlon, cross triathlon, aquathlon, long-distance triathlon and aquabike events.
The new Multisport World Championships Festival format allowed athletes to compete in several different disciplines at the same event, and 13 Team USA athletes capitalized on that opportunity by earning multiple medals. Ellen Hart (Denver, Colo., F55-59) medaled in all four races she entered (golds in sprint and standard-distance duathlon and long-distance triathlon, silver in aquathlon). Kirsten Sass (McKenzie, Tenn., F35-39) earned three medals in Penticton, including golds in the sprint and standard-distance duathlon and silver in the aquabike.
Other multi-medalists included Jared Eytcheson (Cary, N.C., M16-19); Lauryn Falcone (Morgantown, W.V., F25-29), Albert Harrison (Moscow, Idaho, M25-29), Adam Goulet (Portland, Ore., M30-34), Dave Slavinski (Point Pleasant, N.J., M45-49), Juliet Hochman (Portland, Ore., F50-54), Michael Collins (Irvine, Calif., M50-54), Susan Griffin-Kaklikian (Castle Rock, Colo., F60-64), June Black (Austin, Texas, F75-79), Don Nelson (Tulsa, Okla., M75-79) and Lockett Wood (Lyons, Colo., M75-79).
Team USA athletes recorded six total podium sweeps, including the women’s 55-59 and 65-69 age groups in the sprint duathlon, the men’s 25-29 age group in the standard duathlon, the men’s 70-74 age group in the aquathlon and the men’s 50-54 and 70-74 age groups in the aquabike.
California was the most-represented state among the medalists, as 27 Californians reached the podium at least once. Nineteen medalists hailed from Colorado, and nine were from Oregon.
The racing schedule at Penticton 2017 also featured elite, U23, junior and para races. Long-course triathlete Andy Potts (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and off-road triathlete Josiah Middaugh (Vail, Colo.) led the U.S. elite contingent, each recording top-five finishes in their respective disciplines. Potts was about a minute shy of the podium in Sunday’s ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships, placing fourth, while Middaugh took fifth at the ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships on Wednesday.
In the U23 division, two Americans earned top-five finishes. Gregory Schott (Chesterfield, Va.) took fourth at the U23 Cross Triathlon World Championships on Wednesday, and Kevin Bishop (Los Altos, Calif.) was fourth for U23 men in Friday’s Aquathlon World Championships.
For daily recaps and a listing of all Team USA medalists at the Penticton 2017 ITU Multisport World Championships Festival, visit usatriathlon.org. For complete results, visit penticton2017.com.
The world championship season continues this Sunday with the ITU Powerman Long Distance Duathlon World Championships in Zofingen, Switzerland.
About USA Triathlon
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).