Some of the selected info from the latest USAT email. For more, go to usatriathlon.org.
2006 Grand Prix Series Events
2006 marks the beginning of USA Triathlon’s Grand Prix Series. Athletes will find Grand Prix Series in
youth,
sprint, triathlon (intermediate), long distance triathlon, duathlon and
long distance duathlon. The Grand Prix Series aims to bring back the
excitement to age group racing and acknowledge races / race directors
for outstanding events that are safe, supportive of the athletes and
compliant with USAT sanctioning guidelines. The Series will showcase a
selection of the best USAT sanctioned events and allow each race the
opportunity to exhibit its individual characteristics on a National
stage.
Grand Prix Series races are
selected on an annual basis from a list of nominated events from the
ten USAT Regional Federations. Athletes will find one Grand Prix Series
event in each category in their region.
This
forms a ten race series with a National Championship. The only
exception is the Long Distance Triathlon Grand Prix Series. USA
Triathlon has partnered with Ultramax Events
to produce the USAT Long Distance Grand Prix Series which consists of
fourteen races across the country will serve as the road to the USA Triathlon Halfmax National Championship, which will be held in St. Louis, Missouri on September 16th, 2006.
So
why compete at a Grand Prix Series event?
There are several reasons.
First, the top three in each age group will be part of a unique group
of athletes known as the AGP Team (All-Grand Prix Team). These athletes
will receive a special hat signifying their accomplishment and
enrollment into the 2006 AGP Team.
Second, the Grand Prix Series races
will also be used to award a unique group of athletes, Team USA, and
the opportunity to compete at the ITU World Championships.
These sixteen athletes per age group will represent the United States
at the ITU World Championships. In 2006, athletes can earn Team USA
slots at Duthlon and Long Distance Duathlon Grand Prix Series events.
Look in 2007 for athletes to earn slots for Team USA at Sprint, Long
Distance Triathlon, Duathlon and Long Distance Duathlon Grand Prix
Series events.
Third, athletes who finish in the top 33% (or top five
whichever is greater) in their age group will automatically qualify for
the triathlon’s National Age Group Championship. This event is the
premier event of the year which requires all participants to qualify.
If the Grand Prix Series event takes place after the National Age Group
Championship, the race will then qualify athletes for the following
year. Again, Grand Prix Series events will identify a unique group of
athletes and provide them the opportunity to compete for a National
Championship and a spot on Team USA to compete for a World Championship.
Finally, athletes will be competing for the overall Grand Prix Series
title. Each Grand Prix Series will award points to the top five in each
age group. Athletes will be required to compete in a minimum number of
Grand Prix Series races (depending on the series) to be eligible for
the overall series title.