DES MOINES, IOWA (December 22, 2023) — RipRoar Events (Des Moines), in partnership with USA Triathlon (Colorado Springs) today announced the 2024 USA Triathlon Youth and Junior Nationals will be held July 12-14, 2024 in West Des Moines, Iowa.
USA Triathlon Youth & Junior Nationals will take place within Raccoon River Park in West Des Moines, which has a rich triathlon history dating back to 2008 when the Hy-Vee Triathlon served as the final US Olympic qualifying race for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
“Greater Des Moines has a long history of hosting nationally-recognized triathlons, and we are thrilled to add USA Triathlon’s Youth and Junior Nationals to the list for July of 2024,” said Laura Jass, Director of Sports at Catch Des Moines. “This event weekend will bring in 1,000 youth triathletes and their families to our community. We are excited to highlight Raccoon River Park in West Des Moines and build on the events that Flatland Youth Elite and Junior Draft Cup and RipRoar Youth Triathlon have held for years.”
The National Championships will unfold as a three-day event, all held within Raccoon River Park. The racing will begin on Saturday morning as the annual Flatlands Cup will play host to the Draft Legal National Championship (ages thirteen to fifteen and sixteen to nineteen). While the Non-drafting National Championships (ages six to eighteen) as part of the annual RipRoar West Des Moines event on Sunday.
“For more than a decade, the RipRoar and Flatlands Cup weekend of races has had the feel of a national championship. We’re thrilled that for 2024 these races will play host, officially, to the top step of our sport,” said RipRoar Race Director Michael Zimmerman. “The best thing about triathlon is its accessibility to anyone with determination and a bike.”
Athletes of all abilities are welcomed to Sunday’s non-drafting race, including first-time athletes, as no previous qualification is required to race in any RipRoar triathlon.
The Youth and Junior National Championship event happens annually in mid to late summer. The event has previously been held in Milwaukee Wisconsin (’23) and West Chester, Ohio (’22). This is the first time the events history that is being staged in Iowa.
“USA Triathlon is proud to partner with RipRoar to organize the 2024 USA Triathlon Youth and Junior Nationals. For years, RipRoar has organized fantastic youth triathlon events, providing a new generation of athletes the opportunity to challenge themselves and have fun competing in swim, bike, and run,” said Victoria Brumfield, USA Triathlon CEO. “Each year, Youth and Junior Nationals showcases the most promising up-and-coming triathlon stars, while welcoming participants of all abilities. We look forward to partnering with RipRoar to provide a premier race experience as we celebrate the performances of these young athletes.”
Those interested in attending the event can find out more by visiting riproarevents.com.
