USA TRIATHLON POSTPONES COLLEGIATE CLUB & HIGH SCHOOL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

For Immediate Release: Friday, March 13, 2020

Event originally set for April 3-4 in Tempe, Arizona, postponed following decision by City of Tempe

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Triathlon today announced that it has been forced to postpone the USA Triathlon Collegiate Club and High School National Championships, which was scheduled for April 3-4 in Tempe, Arizona, due to the rapidly evolving situation surrounding coronavirus (COVID-19).

The postponement was made after the City of Tempe issued a decision on Thursday to ban all events in order to mitigate risk and protect the city’s most vulnerable populations.

The decision also follows developments in the collegiate landscape throughout the week, including the shift to online learning by many colleges and universities, student-athlete travel restrictions and large-scale event cancellations at the NCAA level.

"We know that this news is disappointing to triathlon’s entire collegiate club and high school community, as well as to our partners in Tempe and other stakeholders involved with Collegiate Club & High School Nationals," said Rocky Harris, USA Triathlon CEO. "Postponing races is never an easy decision to make. We are continuing to monitor and evaluate our event schedule during this unprecedented time, while supporting the entire USA Triathlon family and putting the safety of the general public at the forefront all decision-making."

USA Triathlon is exploring the potential option of finding an alternate date later this year to host Collegiate Club & High School Nationals in a safe and fair way for all athletes. The organization will communicate updates to the USA Triathlon Collegiate Club Committee, and all collegiate club and high school team leaders as appropriate.

For continued updates from USA Triathlon regarding COVID-19, visit usatriathlon.org/coronavirusupdates. USA Triathlon continues to monitor the situation surrounding COVID-19, while following the guidance of local authorities, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), when making decisions regarding the status of USA Triathlon events and programs.

In addition, USA Triathlon remains in regular contact with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the national and global sports landscape. Any further potential changes to USA Triathlon’s National Championships event calendar will be communicated immediately.

usa triathlon.pngAbout 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 and paratriathlon in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,300 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 International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the ITU and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).

Media Contacts

Caryn Maconi, Communications Manager

719-955-2828 | caryn.maconi@usatriathlon.org

Chuck Menke, Chief Marketing Officer

719-955-2827 | chuck.menke@usatriathlon.org

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