Courtesy: USAT

Once primarily known as the home of Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz., is now getting a new claim to fame - triathlon hotbed.

In April, the city hosted its first Ironman race. On May 22, it will welcome the USA Triathlon 2005 Elite Cup Challenge as part of the Tempe International Classic Triathlon, a popular age group race.

The Elite Cup Challenge is the reincarnation of USA Triathlon's Race to Athens series, which started in 2003. Tempe joined the schedule in 2004 and Doug Friman (Tucson, Ariz.) and Julie Swail (Irvine, Calif.) won the inaugural elite races.

The Tempe International Classic is also part of the ITU's Continental Cup series and top finishers earn points toward their ITU ranking. The ITU rankings system is used to determine which athletes can try to qualify for the Olympic Games.

Friman and Swail are scheduled to be back to try to defend their titles this year, but will have plenty of company from the United States and around the world. Watch out for Olympians Hunter Kemper (Longwood, Fla.) and Victor Plata (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) along with top U.S. men's elite Matt Reed (Boulder, Colo.).

On the women's side, Becky Lavelle (Cupertino, Calif.) continues her comeback from an injury that held her out of the 2004 season.

Teen triathletes will compete in a shorter version of the professional race on the same course and with the same ITU rules. The junior athletes will compete for points toward All- American status and possible inclusion on the U.S. team for the 2005 junior world championships.

Members of the U.S. Under-23 National Team will compete with in the elite/pro race as they try to qualify for their own world championships.

Meanwhile, the age group races have expanded. Not only is there the intermediate distance Tempe International Classic Triathlon (1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run), but now race director Jonathan Grinder has added the Rio Salado Sprint Triathlon (400m swim, 20k bike, 5k run). There is also an open-water swim race in Tempe Town Lake.

The Tempe International Classic Triathlon serves as the USA Triathlon Southwest Regional Championship at the intermediate distance.

For more information about the 2005 Elite Cup Challenge, go to www.haultothegreatwall.com.

For more information about the Tempe International Classic and the Rio Salado Sprint triathlons, go to www.tucsonracing.com/TATinf05.htm.