Junior & Junior Elite

USA Triathlon coordinates a variety of age-appropriate, developmental competition formats for junior athletes. These include national championships, world championship team qualifiers, and regional, national and international competitions. In addition, working with our Regional Athlete Development Coordinators, USAT helps to promote entry-level junior events within each of its 10 regions.

Junior triathletes represent one of the fastest growing segments of USA Triathlon membership.  The "junior" age division is comprised of athletes between the ages of 16 and 19, with racing age determined on December 31st of the competition year.  Athletes 15 and under race in the "youth" division. 

Junior athletes have the opportunity to compete in two distinct styles of racing.  Most juniors participate in the traditional, non-drafting triathlon format.  USAT has designated a number of non-drafting Junior Development Races around the country to serve as age-appropriate, entry-level triathlons. 

An emerging group of juniors compete in draft-legal triathlons, called Junior Elite Cups.  These sprint distance races mimic the ITU World Cup and Olympic format of racing.  Juniors do not have to qualify for these events, nor do they need to be members of teams, but generally should have above-average swim skills, the ability to ride in a peloton, and a strong run.

2010 Season Overview:  Click here for a one hour webinar which outlines the race, camp and funding opportunities available to Juniors interested in the draft-legal race format.