The beaches of paradise are about to be decorated in racing bibs instead of beach towels as nearly 3,000 age group athletes from 62 national federations travel to Cozumel to partake in the 2016 ITU Age Group Triathlon World Championships. Competing in both the sprint (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run) and standard distance (1.5km swim, 40 km bike, 10km run), age group athletes from all over the world have earned their right to represent their country in the pinnacle race of the triathlon season.
Age group triathletes are the heart and soul of the week-long championship program. Athletes have worked all year long for the chance to compete against the best of the best in their field and fight for an even greater chance of being crowned world champion. Competitors set to race range in ages from 16 years old to 86 years old, such as Madonna Buder (USA) and Winston Allen (USA), who both were born in 1930 and are the oldest man and woman racing this week.
The host nation, Mexico, will have the most representation with 614 athletes coming to honour the stars and stripes. The United States has the second highest national team with 539 and Great Britain has the third with 427. 1229 of those racing are female, but the men outnumber the women this year as 1716 men will compete.
Excited to be at @worldtriathlon #WTSCozumel to help support @TriathlonCanada AG Athletes. A peek of the swim exit: pic.twitter.com/PO2iEUYhp9
— James Loaring (@jamesloaring) September 12, 2016
There are a handful of competitors this week that are racing this week as returning victors. 155 triathletes will line up having previously won a world title before, also 289 athletes are also signed up to compete in both the sprint distance and standard distance course.
Many National Federations also are showcasing many talented athletes that have made headlines locally. For Canada, Cathy McKibbon has competed in 33 World Championships from across 10 different countries. She also has already qualified to compete in next year’s Grand Final in Rotterdam. Her husband John, is also a regular ITU technical official.
The Aussies will be bringing 214 age groupers to Cozumel. Ten of the 214 are getting the most of their visit and will be competing in all three events: the aquathlon, the sprint and the standard distance. The oldest men competing for Australia is a set of 80-year-old twin brothers, Keith and Frank Pearce. Keith Pearce is one of the 10 Aussies who will compete in all three races. Also, two former Triathlon Australia will be racing, Peter Hedge and David Ferrier.
There are two American women racing this week that have traveled to Cozumel to reclaim not one, but two world titles. Kirsten Sass and Ellen Hart won both the sprint and the standard distance races last year in Chicago, so will be looking to become repeat defenders this year.
Racing is set to begin on Wednesday, September 14 at 08:00 for the Aquathlon World Championship. Triathlon racing begins Thursday, September 15 at 06:45 for the sprint distance and the standard will be contested on Sunday, September 18 at 06:45.
Click here for the complete start lists