The USA Paratriathlon Junior & U23 Development Team Program, is meant to provide opportunities to aspiring junior and
Acceptance into this program is based on an application process, and approved athletes are expected to commit to training primarily for triathlons for the 2023 season. Tenure in this program is only through the 2023 triathlon season and applicants need to reapply annually. Details on the team program's benefits and requirements can be found in the Team Program Outline below. Application is open now through March 15, 2023. Questions can be emailed to the team's head coach, Chris Palmquist.
2022 Team athletes:
Emma Meyers
Age: 15
Emma Meyers is a below knee amputee who currently resides in Pensacola, Florida. This is Emma’s third year as part of the U23/Junior Paratriathlon Development Team. Emma recently earned elite status and will be competing in France in June. Emma swam for her high school this year and practiced with the cross-country team. Next year Emma will be Junior Class President.
Skyler Fisher
Age: 17
Skyler Fisher is a para triathlete from Texas and started competing in triathlons when she was 14 years old. Since then, she has been able to compete in many triathlons across the U.S., including nationals and her first international/world triathlon race in March 2022. In addition to triathlon, she enjoys competing in track and field, swimming, and WCMX. She also enjoys rescuing animals, traveling, and hanging out with friends and family.
Isabelle Hogness
Age: 14
Isabelle Hogness joins the U23/Junior Paratriathlon Development Team for the third year. She completed her first triathlon at the age of 11 and has loved it ever since. Hogness was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair for long distances and competitions. She competes on her high school swim team and local club swim team, as well as her high school track & field team. She is the first wheelchair athlete at her school. She has competed at Move United Junior Nationals for three summers, and USAT Youth and Junior Nationals in August 2021. In her free time, Hogness enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing sled hockey, and traveling.
Hannah Longmire
Age: 14
Hannah Longmire, of Iowa City, Iowa, started running four years ago and fell in love with the sport. She has competed on her school’s cross country, swimming, and track team. She has competed in para sports for the past three years. Hannah loves to design her prosthetic legs to match her personality; bright, fun, and full of sparkles.
Jacie King
Age: 19
Jacie King is a sophomore at the University of Arizona. She is their first para-triathlete. She is also a member of the wheelchair road racing team, track team, para swim team, and hand-cycle team. She enjoys athletic involvement and values all the relationships she has gained from being a part of paratriathlon. Her biggest goal is to help others to gain the confidence that comes with being involved with athletic activities.
Mia Emory
Age: 16
Mia Emory is a 16-year-old from Sayreville, New Jersey. Mia was born in the Henan Province of China and moved to the USA when she was adopted at the age of 11. Mia was born with Spina Bifida. She has been an adaptive athlete for three years. She started out playing wheelchair basketball and now trains to compete in swimming, track & field, and archery. Mia is thrilled to have this opportunity to train and compete in Paratriathlon and has aspirations to be a multisport athlete who competes at an elite level in the future. Mia values her family, her health, and a strong commitment to breaking barriers for all people with disabilities.
Olivia Molnar
Originally from Valparaiso, Indiana, Olivia moved overseas to India in 2015 and back to the U.S. to Dallas in 2018. She currently swims for her high school as well as for Metroplex Aquatics Swim Club. Olivia is a fierce advocate for parasports having recently spoken in front of the Texas UIL board to add paraswim to the roster. Olivia is proud to say that she is the first wheelchair track athlete at her high school and has gone to state twice. Her hobbies include swimming, reading, traveling as well as watching movies and historical documentaries.
Madison Hahs
Madison is an adaptive athlete from Pennsylvania who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy from a stroke in utero. She has been competing for 5 years in track, field, and swimming with an adaptive sports team. Over the past two years, she’s been on the track and field team for her school and on the local YMCA swim team. For Madison being involved with her adaptive community through sports feels like a second home. Meeting other athletes keeps her driven to try new things, most recently the sport of paratriathlon. Also, Madison enjoys dancing at a local studio, skiing, painting, and spending time with family and friends.
Gavin Pursley
Gavin is a soon to be 14 year old from the Old Pueblo, Tucson, Arizona, who was born without his left hand. Currently living in Gilbert, Arizona, now attending at Casteel High School. He races with Foundrē and has a strong love for mountain biking. He is looking forward to training hard and tackling personal grow in triathlons. In his down time from school and training he enjoys his furry friends of four cats and dog. Enjoys video games with friends, YouTubing, family time and sleeping in.