Irvine, Texas to Host Top-Level Triathlon Action | Sports Destination Management

Irvine, Texas to Host Top-Level Triathlon Action

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Jan 17, 2022

 

USA Triathlon, in partnership with the City of Irving, Texas, announced that Irving will host the inaugural 2022 USA Triathlon Multisport National Championships Festival, scheduled for April 28-May 1, 2022. The new Multisport National Championships Festival encompasses six of USA Triathlon’s National Championship events, bringing to Irving the nation’s best run-bike-run, swim-run, swim-bike and swim-bike-run athletes as they compete for national titles during the four-day event. Showcasing the sport’s offering of multiple race formats, the Multisport National Championships Festival will also debut the new Age Group Mixed Relay National Championships and Super Sprint Triathlon Time Triathlon National Championships.

The 2022 USA Triathlon Multisport National Championships Festival will include the following National Championship events:

• Draft-legal Triathlon National Championships
• Duathlon (run-bike-run) National Championships (standard and draft-legal sprint distances)
• Aquathlon (swim-run) National Championships
• Aquabike (swim-bike) National Championships (standard distance)
• Super Sprint Triathlon Time Trial National Championships
• Age Group Mixed Relay National Championships

“This brand-new Multisport National Championships Festival has been a long time in the making and we are thrilled to head to Irving, Texas, a terrific host city with a long history of supporting triathlons, for the debut edition,” said Rocky Harris, USA Triathlon CEO. “We’ve long wanted to bring together several of our multisport national championship events as one, multi-day event where triathletes, duathletes and aquabike and aquathlon athletes can all come together to race at a fabulous venue. For the age group athlete looking to compete in multiple disciplines and qualify for Team USA, no longer will they have to travel to multiple events throughout the year – they can come to Multisport National Championships Festival and race several events over race weekend. These four days in Irving are really going to be a celebration of multisport racing.”

“We are excited to welcome the USA Triathlon Multisport National Championships Festival home to Irving for 2022,” said Irving Mayor Rick Stopfer. “Our long and strong history with triathlons, and our award-winning reputation for hospitality will assure your competitors, their families and fans and your sponsors are in for a spectacular event, hosted in one of the most diverse communities in the country. We look forward to welcoming the world home to Irving.”

The host community for National Championships play a vital role, particularly in a multi-day, multi-discipline event, and the Multisport National Championships Festival logo pays homage to the city of Irving with a nod to the Mustangs of Las Colinas, the beautiful sculpture of nine bronze mustangs galloping across a granite prairie stream in the Las Colinas Urban Center, location for the event.

In addition to the Championship events, the Multisport National Championships Festival will also include a non-championship Olympic-distance triathlon and an open-water swim competition. None of the races, including the National Championship events, require qualification. Registration, powered by TicketSocket is currently open at multisportfestival.com.

Athletes are encouraged to participate in multiple disciplines as the multisport community comes together to celebrate the unique opportunities multisport affords and will receive a 5% discount when they register for three events and a 10% discount when they register for four events.

All races will be held at Levy Event Plaza, which opened in 2020 along Lake Carolyn as a dedicated outdoor hub for Irving community events. Athletes will swim in Lake Carolyn and the bike and run courses will take athletes on rolling hills through the main thoroughfares of Irving, including Las Colinas Boulevard, Lake Carolyn Parkway and Royal Lane.

The race venue at Levy Event Plaza is a convenient 10-minute drive from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and is within the bustling Las Colinas area with beautiful lake-side trails and a plethora of dining, hotel and entertainment options, including the Toyota Music Factory.

“Irving has been honored to host a wide range of amateur and professional sports over the years, including serving as the host site for the 2000 Olympic Triathlon Trials ahead of triathlon’s Olympic debut,” said Irving City Manager Chris Hillman. “The USA Triathlon Multisport National Championships Festival will allow us to welcome competitors, sponsors and fans from all over to Irving, and showcase our award-winning service and hospitality.”

In addition to racing for age group national championships, athletes will also have the opportunity to qualify to represent age group Team USA at 2023 World Triathlon Age Group World Championships. For more information about Team USA, comprised of the nation’s top amateur multisport athletes who represent the U.S. at World Triathlon Age Group World Championship events, visit usatriathlon.org/teamusa.

The four days of racing kick off on Thursday, April 28 with the debut of the Super Sprint Triathlon Time Trial National Championships (250m swim, 5k bike, 1.2k run) and the open water swim competition (750m).

Friday’s races include the Draft-Legal Sprint Triathlon National Championships (750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run). Draft-legal racing, where athletes ride in packs on the bike, is the format of racing contested on the World Triathlon and Olympic stage and is gaining popularity at the age-group level. Also on Friday, swim-run athletes will compete in the Aquathlon National Championships (1,000m swim, 5k run).

The Duathlon National Championships begin on Saturday, as run-bike-run athletes take on the Standard Duathlon (10k run, 40k bike, 5k run). The debut of the Mixed Relay Triathlon National Championships will also take place Saturday, as teams of four (two women, two men) compete, with each team member completing a 250m swim, 5k bike, 1.2k triathlon. The Mixed Relay made its Olympic debut at this summer’s Olympic Games Tokyo, as the U.S. earned silver in the fast, exciting, spectator-friendly event.

Sunday’s Duathlon National Championships include the Draft-Legal Sprint Duathlon (5k run, 20k bike, 3.3k run). Also that day is the Aquabike National Championships (1500m swim, 40k bike) for swim-bike athletes, and the non-championship Olympic-distance triathlon (1500m swim, 40k bike, 10k run).

To learn more about the 2022 USA Triathlon Multisport National Championships Festival, visit multisportfestival.com.


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, paratriathlon, and indoor and virtual multisport events in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,000 events and connects with more than 400,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors – as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation – USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Triathlon Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of World Triathlon and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).

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