Courtesy: USAT

USA Triathlon is sending a team of 277 age group triathletes, along with six elite juniors and six under-23 triathletes, to compete Saturday and Sunday in Queenstown, New Zealand at the 2003 International Triathlon Union Triathlon World Championships.

It is the largest U.S. team to compete in a world championship race outside the United States. The age group ITU Triathlon World Championship is an Olympic distance race that consists of a 1.5-kilometer swim, a 40-kilometer bike and a 10-kilometer run. Age groupers and junior elites will race on Saturday.

Junior elites will do a 750-meter swim, a 20.9-kilometer bike and a 5.4-kilometer run.

The U.S. junior elite team will consist of Amanda Hahn (17; Gainesville, Fla.), Manuel Huerta (19; Miami, Fla.), Matt Seymour (19; Honolulu, Hawaii), Chris Stehula (19; San Luis Obispo, Calif.), Claire Whelan (17; Burlington, Vt.) and Jenna Yeakel (16; Canton, Ohio).

Under-23 triathletes will do the Olympic distance race on Sunday morning before the elite triathletes. The U.S. under-23 team will consist of Dave Kuendig (23; Daytona Beach, Fla.), David Messenheimer (23; Avon Lake, Ohio), Tim O'Donnell (23; Shavertown, Pa.), Caitlin Shea-Kenney (21; Plymouth, Mass.), Sara Tarkington (22; Denver, Colo.) and Kelsey Withrow (21; Woodinville, Wash.).

Several former age group national and world champions are on the U.S. start list. Here are just a few of the age groupers to watch:

Sabine Bildstein (Austin, Texas; women 30-34 age group; overall champion at 2003 U.S. national championships)
Michael Boehmer (Delafield, Wis.; men 20-24; overall champion at 2002 age group world championships)
Susan Bradley-Cox (Lexington, Ky.; women 65-69; 2002 age group world champion)
Roger Brockenbrough (Pittsburgh, Pa.; men 65-69; former age group world champion)
Sister Madonna Buder (Spokane, Wash.; women 70-74; 2002 and former age group world champion)
Celeste Callahan (Denver, Colo.; women 60-64; former age group world champion)
Suzanne Elbon (Athens, Ga.; women physically challenged; 2002 PC world champion)
Charley French (Ketchum, Idaho; men 75-79; 2002 age group world champion)
Duane Fritchie (Lee's Summit, Mo.; men 50-54; former age group world champion)
Peter Kain (Cupertino, Calif.; men 40-44; former overall age group national champion)
Ann Lantz (Centennial, Colo.; women 40-44; 2002 age group world champion)
Paula Larsen (Horicon, Wis.; women 55-59; 2002 age group world champion)
Brian Leske (Boston, Mass.; men physically challenged; 2002 PC world champion)
John Reback (North Palm Beach, Fla.; men 30-34; 2003 overall age group national champion)
Amy Rice (Wakefield, R.I.; women 40-44; 2002 age group world champion)
Aaron Scheidies (Farmington, Minn.; men physically challenged; 2002 PC world champion)
Donna Smyers (Montpelier, Vt.; women 45-49; 2002 age group world champion)

There are a total of 1,550 entries in the age group and physically challenged divisions.

Australia will have the biggest team at the championships, with 336, followed by host New Zealand with 307, the United States 301, Great Britain 269 and Canada 162

The athletes will be competing against the elements as well as the competition. Rain and temperatures in the low 60s are predicted for Saturday and Sunday morning.

A full U.S. age group start list is available on the USA Triathlon web site at www.usatriathlon.org/Age_Group/agegroup_news.htm .