High Performance Development Teams

Teenage athletes who aspire to national and international competitions must develop the speed and skill for success in the draft-legal format. USA Triathlon coordinates a series of draft-legal racing opportunities for this purpose. While not every teenage athlete aspires to race as an elite, developing the skills associated with draft-legal triathlon at an early age—a strong swim, superior bike handling, quick transitions, and the ability to run fast off the bike—will serve all athletes well as they progress as collegiate and age group competitors.

USA Triathlon High Performance Development Teams play an integral role in the identification, recruitment, development, and competitive preparation of emerging athletes, to develop well-rounded triathletes capable of success at the highest levels of competition and progression within the USA Triathlon High Performance Development Team program.

USA Triathlon’s Development Series is the premier national draft-legal circuit for triathletes ages 13 to 19 in the United States. The series attracts America’s top young triathletes as they race for individual and team National Championships and Series titles, vie for selection to World Championship teams and experience the dynamic format of Olympic-style, draft-legal triathlon. The Youth division is open to triathletes ages 13 to 15. Youth triathletes complete a super-sprint triathlon consisting of a 375-meter swim, 10-kilometer bike, and 2.5-kilometer run. The Junior division is open to triathletes ages 16 to 19. Junior triathletes complete a sprint triathlon consisting of a 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike, and 5-kilometer run.