Regions MIDEAST
The USA Triathlon Mideast Council has implemented its Mideast Regional Club Racing Series (MERCRS) for several years in the spirit of club camaraderie and friendly competition. Team ATP, our 2011 Division III winner, participated for the first time last year. Team ATP in Saginaw, Mich., was founded in 2010 with the support of an area bike and outdoor shop, The Stable, and Runners Performance. The spark for starting the club was simple — to bring athletes and exercise enthusiasts together. With the advent of social media, we unite local athletes and forge friendships through competition and training. ATP stands for Adenosine Tri-Phosphate; the essential energy molecule for exercising, and the logo depicts the molecular structure. The club’s mission has always been to form a community of like-minded people and provide them the opportunity to train together, learn from each other, and to support each other in a team fashion. Team ATP has members who race anything from local
MID-ATLANTIC USA
The Paratriathlon Committee of Triathlon’s
Mid-Atlantic Region
experienced a successful first year, with a mission to increase and support awareness, access and participation in paratriathlon. First-year efforts included representation at multisport expos in Washington,
D.C., Durham, N.C., Philadelphia, Pa., and
Bethesda, Md. Presentations were given at some local triathlon clubs throughout the region to support increased integration. A website, Facebook page, and listserv were developed to maintain communication and information-sharing.
A two-day paratriathlon clinic sponsored by Sportable adaptive sports club and organized by the Getting2Tri Foundation received funding support from the region. Additionally, the Paratri Committee organized a clinic in Baltimore with the Florida Region’s
5k’s to the Ironman World Championship, members who are USAT Certified Coaches and members who win, place and participate at all distances of triathlon. Our club is not limited to triathlon; many members enjoy focusing on single sports and cross training. The enthusiasm for participation in MERCRS was a surprise, as was our 2011 Divison III placing. The team used the award winnings to purchase buoys for weekly open water swim sessions. This has been one of our best training sessions during the summer, and has led us to consider offering an open water swim race/ event or camp next year. For more information or to join our team please email
teamatpsaginaw@gmail.com.
Hector Torres as the coach. Local adaptive sports clubs, allied health professionals, coaches and elite challenged athletes volunteered their time to make the clinic a success. The committee worked side-by-side with regional race directors support challenged
to athlete participation in local races;
addressing issues of accessibility, handlers, and USAT regulations for paratriathlon.
Financial support was provided to three regional paratriathletes to participate in races from sprint to ultra distance. For challenged athletes already facing significant financial barriers to obtain necessary equipment, these mini-grants supporting travel and race fees are essential in growing the sport. Finally, a handcycle was purchased for challenged athletes in the region, allowing exploration of the sport before committing to such a costly purchase. The region plans to continue and expand efforts in 2013, with the support of ambassadors in each state of the region. If interested in being an ambassador, email
paratri@usat-ma.org.
SOUTHEAST As the year ends, the SERCS (the race
series for clubs in our region) has finished. The series is comprised of USA Triathlon-sanctioned triathlons and duathlons, chosen by the regional council, across Alabama, Florida (panhandle), Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Only clubs registered
with USAT and residing in the region are eligible to participate in the series.
The SERCS has consisted of two categories — small club (50 members or fewer) and large (over 50 members). For those clubs who did not participate in the series — why not? It is easy to join. Some details to consider for 2013: club category
64 USA TRIATHLON WINTER 2013
is based on participation, while the high performance category is based on top performance; at each race, clubs are awarded points and the total score is the sum of the scores at all SERCS races; and cash prizes are awarded to the top three clubs in each category. In the past, clubs have been required to fill out a score sheet, calculate total points for each race, and submit the results to the SERCS coordinator. This requirement has resulted in many clubs not participating in the SERCS. In 2013, race directors of events included in the SERCS are required to gather club information as part of the race registration process and produce a summary report after the race that will be submitted to the SERCS coordinator. The goal of this change is to increase the number of clubs that participate in the SERCS, reduce the time required to update standings, and increase the accuracy of the team scores.
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