Long Beach, California is the next destination in USA Triathlons five-city 2006 Haul to the Great Wall Series, and the event is bringing in the big names among U.S. elites, as the June 25th race is serving as the Elite and U23 National Championship and an ITU Continental Cup race.
Among the athletes scheduled to compete are two U.S. men ranked in the World Cup top-10: Hunter Kemper (No. 2) and Andy Potts (No. 10). World Cup regulars Brian Fleischmann, Matt Reed, Seth Wealing, Joe Umphenour, and Tim ODonnell are also on the start list, as is a strong field of young athletes, led by Jarrod Shoemaker and Haven Barnes. Athens Olympian Victor Plata will also be in action.
For the women, the field includes World No. 2 Laura Bennett, as well as Becky Lavelle, Julie Swail, Margaret Shapiro and a list of up-and-coming athletes in Jasmine Oeinck, Sara McLarty, Jenna Shoemaker, Sarah Haskins, and Jennifer Spieldenner.
International elites from Australia, Canada, Mexico, Israel, New Zealand, and Great Britain will also compete.
We are excited about bringing the Haul to the Great Wall Series to Long Beach, said USAT National Events Director Jeff Dyrek. With its proximity to Los Angeles, Long Beach offers an exciting location in the second largest market in the country. Its a beautiful course that runs along Shoreline Village and Rainbow Harbor. The course even takes competitors past the Queen Mary, the Convention Center, and the Aquarium of the Pacific.
The series of intermediate distance triathlons now in its second year allows triathletes and spectators to get their first look at who might be competing at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Each race is sanctioned by USAT and also the International Triathlon Union (ITU). The ITU world rankings system is used as part of the qualification process for the Olympic Games.
The 2006 Haul to the Great Wall Series kicked off with the Honolulu Triathlon last month and continues with the Park City Mossman Triathlon in Bridgeport, Conn. (August 5), the Boston Triathlon in Boston, Mass. (September 3), and the Westchester Triathlon in Rye, N.Y. (September 17).
Each elite race, which allows drafting on the bike, has a prize purse of $20,000. Moreover, the overall series mens and women’s champions whether from the United States or another country will each receive $10,000.
Swimwear and sports apparel giant Speedo is also providing $5,000 in bonus money for each race on the five-city tour. American men and women who finish in the top-three in their respective races are eligible for the bonuses, with $1,500 going to the top finisher, $750 to second, and $250 to third.
U.S. triathletes took five of the top six spots at the Series opening event in Honolulu and split $3,500 in bonuses.
In addition to the individual race bonus pool, Speedo is providing a $15,000 end-of-the-season bonus to be split if U.S. athletes finish first or second in the Series. First place will receive $5,000 and second place will take home $2,500 in both the mens and womens categories.
The Long Beach event is presented by The Long Beach Water Department and Long Beach Parks & Recreation Department. Proceeds will benefit St. Marys Medical Center C.A.R.E. Program
Age group triathletes interested in racing the same courses as the pros should visit the race web sites for more details and to register. Drafting is not legal in age group races.
2006 “Haul to the Great Wall” Series
Honolulu Triathlon (Honolulu, Hawaii)
May 14
www.honolulutriathlon.com
The Beach Triathlon (Long Beach, Calif.)
June 25
www.thebeachtri.com
Park City Mossman Triathlon (Bridgeport, Conn.)
August 5
www.trifitness.net/ParkCity%20ITU.htm
Boston Triathlon (Boston, Mass.)
September 3
www.bostontriathlon.org
Westchester Triathlon (Rye, N.Y.)
Sept. 17
www.westchestertriathlon.org.
USA Triathlon is the national governing body for triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States. USAT sanctions 1,800 races and connects with more than 65,000 members each year, making it the largest multi-sport organization in the world.
Please visit USA Triathlons web site at www.usatriathlon.org.