Sexton Joins "Strongest-Ever" Contingent of U.S. Athletes at World University Champs

From triathlon.teamusa.org


Nine U.S. Triathletes to Race at World University Championships in Turkey

USA Triathlon - June 18, 2008

Nine up-and-coming U.S. triathletes will compete at the International University Sports Federation's (FISU) 9th annual World University Championships in Erdek, Turkey, on June 28.
The triathlon events for men and women are draft-legal, Olympic distance races (1.5 kilometer swim, 40 kilometer bike, 10 kilometer run), with 134 athletes (74 men, 60 women) from 21 countries set to compete.

The U.S. team of five men and four women includes several current members of the USA Triathlon Elite Athlete Development Program and the USAT Trade Team. Their accomplishments are impressive, with a number of past World Championship team members, the reigning male and female USAT U23 National Champions, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 USAT Collegiate National Champions, 2007 and 2008 U.S. Armed Forces National Champion, and past USAT junior and U23 athletes of the year.

Read More Here

Swim is On this Weekend as Des Moines Recovers

USA Triathlon reports the Hyvee Triathlon will include a swim at an alternate site, enabling Olmypic selection for the third and final men's and women's spots to be decided at the race. Despite levees breaking in the Des Moines area, water quality at West Des Moines' Blue Heron Lake has tested safe. USAT Junior National Team Coach has checked out the venue and reports first hand that race officials have done great work to prepare the alternate site. It appears better staged than the ITU World Champs in Vancouver last weekend, he said, and race day is still three days away.

USAT and USOC officials have developed a backup plan should conditions in Des Moines deteriorate in the next several days, which they are not expected to. The Lifetime Fitness race in Minneapolis would be the final selection race as federation and Olympic committee officials seek to keep the final selection decision in the hands of athletes. Lifetime Fitness has agreed to make its popular elite race draft legal if needed to accomodate Olympic selection.

The above USAT link also has insightful analysis of how the final Olympic qualifier in Des Moines could play out--who is in contention and what does each athlete need to do to secure a spot. This final spot is one among three races, the cumulative scores from which will determine the final members of the Olympic team.

Hy-Vee Swim Likely Cancelled Due to Midwest Floods

The Des Moines Register reports that the final US Olympic Team selection event--the Hyvee Triathlon--will begin with a 10K run, followed by a 40K bike and a 5K run if water quality in Gray's Lake does not improve by June 28. Race organizers have announced a new race venue in West Des Moines to avoid impacts of the massive Mid-west floods. The new course does not include a swim. USAT has said it will pull selection status from the race if a suitable swim venue cannot be found. The decision would come within 24 hours of the race start. Absent a triathlon in Des Moines, final Olympic selection will be based on performance over the past 4 years.

Des Moines braced for flooding Friday afternoon as the Des Moines River continued to rise just below its banks. Will the levees hold?

Mexico Race Turns Tragic

CNN reports that a car crashed into a bike race near the US-Mexico border. One cyclist is dead. This image is horrific. This story serves as a tragic reminder to ride defensively and remember that a closed course is only closed to drivers who are law-abiding, sober, and awake. Hat tip: Mike Orton.