ITU Long Course Qualification
Hey guys, I am toying with the idea of making a run at the 2017 USAT Long Course Championship.
I've read the USAT qualification procedures; however, does anyone know if any of the International IM 70.3 races are USAT certified? Does anyone have a competent contact inside USAT whom may have a definitive answer?
Perhaps USAT would recognise ITU's maxi-distance as a qualifying race (at this point I am just typing what I want to hear).
As a US Citizen living overseas, I am concerned about finding a USAT certified race to which I can qualify for the USAT LCC. It is not an issue traveling to the US to participate in the LLC; however it could get expensive to travel back stateside for a qualifying race as well.
Thoughts?
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For 2016, at least, unlike the short course championships, there is no qualification needed for the USAT Long Course Championship (aka half Ironman distance.) I simply registered for the race in Miami. The relevant page on the USAT web site:
https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Triathlon/Events/USAT-Events-Calendar/2016/November/13/Long-Course-Triathlon-and-Aquabike-National-Championship
to quote from that page: *No qualification is necessary to compete in this event.*
Let's hope that applies in 2017?
Thanks Al. The answer was right in front of me!!
So this is totally different than the IM 70.3 World Championships where you have to win your slot (probably 1 for the older contingent). ?????
Completely. Here are the key differences:
1) USAT uses only 1 qualifying race. E.g., MiamiMan 2016 qualifies for ITU World Long Course in Penticton, Canada 2017. MiamiMan 2017 qualifies for ITU World Long Course in Odense, Denmark 2018. Then the USAT Long Course Nationals will move to a new venue for another two years.
2) Top 18 per AG ... for EVERY age group ... with roll-down to 25 are offered a slot. If the race is outside of the US as it is most years then you are guaranteed a slot if you are in the top 25. People will spend $10K to go to Hawaii, but will balk for some reason on spending that on a fantastic vacation in Denmark.
3) USAT uses an age up rule. I.e., the top 25 is NOT from your current AG, but from your AG the following year when you will compete at ITU Worlds. E.g., I am 59 and racing Miami Man in Nov. For awards, I will be scored normally in the M55-59. But for the Team USA selection they will rescore me in the 59-63 AG because that will be the M60-64 at Penticton in 2017.
4) While the USAT Long Course Championship is always a Half Ironman distance, the ITU Long Course Worlds has been contested over the years as a either a double or triple olympic. Apparently, going forward, they are going to hold it at 3K-120K-30K ... a modified triple O.