Posted: June 18, 2004

Triathlon: USA Triathlon Posts Record Sanctioning Numbers

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 18, 2004) – The triathlon and multi-sport explosion in the United States is continuing as USA Triathlon has sanctioned more races so far in 2004 than ever before.

As of Jun 3, 2004, the USA Triathlon sanctioning department had processed 838 sanction applications. That is an increase of 120 applications over the same period in 2003.

In 2004, USA Triathlon has sanctioned 262 brand new events, and also provided sanctions to 27 established races that had not been sanctioned before.

A USA Triathlon sanction provides the event director with liability insurance, risk management, the opportunity to hire officials and several other benefits that serve not only the director, but the athletes as well.

Despite rumors that duathlon numbers are dropping, USA Triathlon has already sanctioned 199 duathlons in 2004. In 2003, it sanctioned a total of 208.

USA Triathlon has also sanctioned a total of 561 sprint distance triathlons, 118 Olympic distance triathlons, 56 long distance triathlons and eight ultra distance triathlons. It has sanctioned 122 youth triathlons.

USA Triathlon's membership held steady in May at 52,581. This is a 9.5 percent increase over May 2003 and a 24.2 percent increase over May 2002. USA Triathlon reached a record membership of 53,008 in March 2004.

USAT one-day licenses saw a dramatic increase over May of 2003. As of May 31, 2004, USA Triathlon had sold 24,787 one-day licenses. That's a 12.6 percent increase over the same time period in 2003.

"The sanctioning numbers are record numbers for USA Triathlon," said USAT Acting Executive Director Tim Yount. "What the numbers show is that new events are bringing new people into the sport.

"Now we must work to keep them involved with more membership benefits and great customer service."

USA Triathlon has hired two new employees to help with these aspects of the organization.

Gwynne Reid has been hired as USAT's race sanctioning assistant. Reid recently moved to Colorado Springs, Colo., from Harrisonburg, Va. While in Harrisonburg, she attended James Madison University (’01 and ’03) and worked at the community hospital as a data analyst/programmer. She also volunteered as a girls basketball coach for several years. Reid competes in triathlons and duathlons in the 25-29 age group.

Jennifer O'Day has been hired as USAT's membership assistant. O'Day grew up in a suburb of Minneapolis, Minn. She went to the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, where she received a Bachelor’s degree in biology. She also worked in the finance industry in Milwaukee, Wis. O'Day comes from a running background, having competed in cross-country and track through college. O'Day competes in Olympic distance events, and recently had the privilege of racing in the short course Age Group World Championships in Madeira Island, Portugal.

"The sanctioning department is now fully staffed with professionals who take customer service and satisfaction very seriously," Event Sanctioning Manager Kathy Matejka said. "Not only are we working at a record pace compared to prior years, but we are actively planning for a future that will allow a user-friendly, secure, on-line sanction process along with a viable package of products and services for every event director."

USA Triathlon is the national governing body for triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States. For more information on this and other stories related to USA Triathlon, please contact communications and media relations manager B.J. Evans at 719-597-9090, ext. 105 or at BJ@USATriathlon.org. USA Triathlon’s web site is www.usatriathlon.org.