Posted: April 13, 2007

Triathlon: Cayuga Lake Triathlon to Host 2008 USAT Sprint Nationals

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 13, 2007) -- The USA Triathlon Sprint National Championship is headed to the Northeast for 2008. USA Triathlon (USAT), the national governing body for the sport, awarded the event to the Cayuga Lake Triathlon in Trumansburg, N.Y. The 750 meter swim, 14 mile bike, 5k run event is planned for August 5, 2008 at Taughannock Falls State Park. “We are excited to name the Cayuga Lake Triathlon as the 2008 Sprint National Championship. The Ithaca Triathlon Club has put on a great event for the last four years and has proven their ability to host a top notch national championship,” said USAT Multisport Development Manager Shannon Votruba. “By moving Sprint Nationals around from year to year (2006 was at the Mountain Lake Triathlon in Alabama and 2007 will be at the Rattlesnake Triathlon in Colorado), we can expose our top sprint triathletes to the entire country.” Cayuga Lake Triathlon Race Director Jane Miller is excited to host the event. “I am delighted USA Triathlon has selected our event to host the USAT 2008 Sprint National Championship as it is a reflection of the dedication, hard work and enthusiasm of everyone who has been involved,” said Miller. “We appreciate the support USAT has given our race and we feel privileged to be asked to hold this event. We are looking forward to having athletes from around the country experience our triathlon which we believe has become one of the premier races in the Northeast. “The Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention and Visitors Bureau, which has partnered with our race for several years, is thrilled with this opportunity to showcase our great area and to help us make race weekend a fun and memorable experience for all the athletes.” The Cayuga Lake Triathlon has grown from 200 competitors in 2003 to an anticipated 700 athletes in 2007. Competitors are treated to an extremely well organized triathlon in the heart of the beautiful Finger Lakes Wine Country. Athletes begin with a swim in Cayuga Lake (one of the crown jewels of the region), then bike along scenic rolling hills which reveal spectacular views of the lake, finishing the race with a run near the lake shore, through the shaded and magnificent gorge trail to the Park’s namesake, Taughannock Falls (standing 3 stories taller than Niagara Falls). “We always have lots of supportive, cheerful and enthusiastic volunteers along the race course to take care of the athletes needs,” added Miller. The finish line party features Ithaca's Purity ice cream and awards are made by local artisans. While in the area, the athletes and their families can choose from a variety of outdoor activities ranging from biking, to sailing to gorge hiking and of course wine tasting. More intellectual pursuits include tours of Cornell University and Ithaca College, the Sciencenter or Museum of the Earth. With dozens of unique restaurants and plentiful used and independent bookstores and boutiques, competitors of all ages are certain to have an enjoyable and memorable stay. For more information on the Cayuga Lake Triathlon, visit: www.ithacatriathlonclub.org. About USA Triathlon National Championships USA Triathlon supports the Sprint, Long Course Triathlon, Long Course Duathlon, Winter Triathlon and Club National Championships through existing premier events. National Championship events that are owned and produced by USAT include the Age Group National Championship, Youth Nationals, Collegiate Nationals and Short Course Duathlon Nationals. The National Championship events are USAT’s premier events of the year in which we strive to offer the best possible event for all athletes. With the exception of the USAT Age Group National Championship and Long Course Triathlon, any athlete can compete in the national championships. About USA Triathlon USA Triathlon is the national governing body for triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States. USAT sanctions 2,000 races and connects with more than 85,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. Website: USATriathlon.org