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

Nine up-and-coming U.S. triathletes will compete at the International University Sports Federation's (FISU) 9^th 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.

Men

Greg Billington (Spokane, Wash.) 2007 USAT Junior Elite Athlete of the Year, 2007 USAT Junior National Champion, 2006, 2007 and 2008 USAT Junior Worlds Team Member, 2006 Junior Aquathlon World Champion

Barrett Brandon (Fort Worth, Texas) 2004 USAT U23 Worlds Team Member, 2004 USAT Collegiate National Champion, 2004 FISU Worlds Team Member

Ethan Brown (Lowell, Mass.) 2007 USAT U23 National Champion, 2008 USAT U23 Worlds Team Member, 2006 FISU Worlds Team Member

Kevin Collington (Orlando, Fla.) 2007 USAT Collegiate National Champion

Steve Sexton (Davis, Calif.) 2008 USAT Collegiate National Champion, 2006 FISU Worlds Team Member

Women

Amanda Felder (Houston, Texas) 2005 and 2008 USAT Collegiate National Champion, 2006 FISU Worlds Team Member

Lauren Goldstein-Kral (Shaker Heights, Ohio) 2007 USAT Junior Elite Athlete of the Year, 2007-2008 USAT Junior Worlds Team Member

Jennifer Spieldenner (Findlay, Ohio) 2005 USAT Junior National Champion, 2006 and 2007 USAT U23 Worlds Team Member

Justine Whipple (Duxbury, Mass.) 2007 USAT U23 National Champion, 2006 and 2007 Collegiate National Champion, 2007 and 2008 U23 Worlds Team Member, 2007 and 2008 U.S. Armed Forces National Champion

"In my opinion, this will be the strongest team we have ever taken to the FISU race," said USAT Junior National Team Coach Andy Schmitz. "This event will be a great opportunity for our emerging elites to shine as they make the transition from Continental Cup to World Cup competition. It also serves as a ‘gentle' entry for our top juniors into the Olympic distance draft-legal racing scene before aging up next year."

USAT Athlete Development Coordinator Steve Kelley, who will be assisting Schmitz with the team, assessed the international competition. "On the competitive side, we can expect to see many future Olympians in the field. Much like the Under-23 World Championship, the World University Championship hosts some of the best up-and-coming international talent," Kelley said. "In Erdek, we will see a very strong European contingent, but also representation from many Asian and South American countries.

The U.S. last earned a medal at the Championships in 2004, when current XTERRA pro Seth Wealing captured the silver medal. Wealing also won the silver in 2002.

The World University Championships are held every two years in locations around the world. In 2008, 32 sports are being offered in various countries. The 2010 event for triathlon is slated to take place in Valencia, Spain.

In addition to world-class collegiate competition, the event recognizes each nation's participation in opening and closing ceremonies that include a parade of nations and local culture performances. All of the athletes and coaches stay in one hotel, which gives it an "athletes village" feel and many opportunities to share the experience with fellow nations.

In order to participate, athletes must a be citizen of the country they represent, must be a current college student or recently enrolled, and must be at least 17 and less than 28 years of age on January 1 in the year of event.

The FISU was formed within university institutions in order to promote sporting values and encourage sporting practice in harmony with, and complementary to, the university spirit.

Find out more about the event.