COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Thousands of the United States’ top amateur triathletes will return to Omaha, Nebraska, from Aug. 12-13 for the USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships, USA Triathlon’s largest and longest-running national championship event.

First held in 1983, this event regularly draws athletes from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The size of the field has more than tripled since 2010, making Age Group Nationals consistently one of the top-five largest triathlons in the United States.

The event was held in Omaha for the first time last year, with more than 3,300 competitors crossing the finish line over two days of racing.

“The City of Omaha and its residents welcomed USA Triathlon with open arms in 2016, and we look forward to returning once again to Levi Carter Park next month,” said Brian D’Amico, National Events Director at USA Triathlon. “This event is the highlight of many amateur triathletes’ annual calendars, and each year we see incredible displays of athleticism and sportsmanship out on the course.”

The event features two national championship races over two days at Levi Carter Park. The Olympic-Distance National Championships, set for 7 a.m. CT on Saturday, Aug. 12, cover a 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bike and 10-kilometer run course. The Sprint National Championships, in which athletes complete a 750m swim, 20k bike and 5k run, will begin at 7 a.m. CT on Sunday, Aug. 13. 

Registration is still open for both events. Athletes must qualify for Olympic-Distance Nationals through the criteria outlined on usatriathlon.org, and must be at least 17 years old by Dec. 31, 2017, to compete. Sprint Nationals do not require qualification, and athletes may register at active.com. Sprint Nationals participants must be at least 15 years old by Dec. 31, 2017.

In 2016, Todd Buckingham (East Lansing, Mich.) and Alissa Doehla (Tryon, N.C.) claimed Olympic-distance overall national titles, while Christopher Douglas (Atlanta, Ga.) and Kirsten Sass (McKenzie, Tenn.) took top honors in the sprint-distance race. Click here for compete 2016 results.

In addition to chasing national titles, athletes will also compete for coveted spots on USA Triathlon’s Team USA, comprised of the nation’s top amateur athletes who represent the U.S. at ITU Age Group World Championship events. At Olympic-Distance Nationals, the top 18 finishers in each age group after applying the age-up rule (rolling down to 25th place) will earn the right to represent Team USA at the 2018 ITU Standard-Distance Age Group World Championships in Gold Coast, Australia. 

Sprint-distance competitors must finish in the top six of their age groups to make Team USA for the Sprint World Championships. While Sprint Nationals in Omaha is not draft-legal, the Sprint World Championships in Gold Coast will feature a draft-legal bike leg. Athletes will also have a second opportunity this season to qualify for the Sprint World Championships through the Draft-Legal World Qualifier, set for Oct. 7 in Sarasota, Florida. 

A number of athletes competing in Omaha in August have already earned their opportunity to race for Team USA (through last year’s national championships) and will compete at the 2017 ITU Age Group World Championships in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, this September. Visit usatriathlon.org/teamusa to learn more about the Team USA program for amateur athletes.

The Omaha community is encouraged to come out and support the competitors and experience the excitement of multisport. Admission to the races is free to all spectators. Volunteer spots are also still available, and those interested may register here.

For more information on the USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships, visit usatriathlon.org/agnc2017.

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).