Courtesy: press release

USA Triathlon (USAT) announced recently that Kansas City, Missouri and Ultramax Events have won the bid to host up to 1400 athletes at the 2005 USA Triathlon National Age Group Championship. The Championship is scheduled for Saturday, August 13, 2005, and will be held at Smithville Lake (just a few minutes north of Kansas City).

At the beginning of December, USA Triathlon was in final contract negotiations with an eastern US city to host the USA Triathlon National Championships. Unfortunately, that city pulled out of the negotiations at the last minute, forcing officials to find other possibilities. After discussions with various cities and top race directors across the country, the USA Triathlon Board of Directors voted to give the championship bid to Kansas City.

"Kansas City and Mark Livesay really came through for us," said USA Triathlon Interim Executive Director Mike Greer. "USA Triathlon will now focus on making this event the best possible championship."

Race Director Livesay (with Ultramax Events) was selected to direct the USA Triathlon Championship partially based on the proven success of the existing U.S. Half Triathlon Championship. Also produced by Ultramax Events, the Half Championship will share its venue (Smithville Lake) and course design with the USAT Age Group Championship race.

August's USAT Age Group Championship is Olympic distance - 1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run. September's Half Championship course is the traditional half-iron distance - 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run.

Both Championships will attract amateur triathletes from across the nation, and both require athletes to qualify in order to compete. Nineteen of the nation's best long-course triathlons have been selected to serve as qualifying events for September's Half Triathlon Championship, and qualifying time standards have been set up for athlete's that are unable to make it to an Official Qualifying Event. Athletes will need to visit www.usatriathlon.org to find out how to qualify for the Age Group Championship.

USAT Championship participants will battle for a spot on Team USA. The top finishers will travel with Team USA to compete at the International Triathlon Union - World Age Group Championships, held in Hawaii later in the year. Half Championship qualifiers will compete for the Championship titles, thousands in prizes, and the prestige of being one of the best long-course athletes in the nation.

"We hope that these races will mesh together to bring an unprecedented championship experience to the age group athletes." said Livesay. "Holding the shorter race in August sets racers up perfectly to compete at the longer distance Championship in September, then those that have qualified at the USAT race can finish their season off at World's in October."

Smithville Lake, race site for both Championships, is located 10 miles from the Kansas City International Airport (MCI) and 17 miles from downtown Kansas City. Race registration is open now for the U.S. Half Championship at www.ushalfchampionship.com and the Age Group National online event registration will open soon at www.usatriathlon.org.

All proceeds generated from the U.S. Half Championship directly benefit the sight saving programs of the Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation.