A: In 2006, approximately 25% of the field was over age 40. As for Juniors, the numbers are growing. In 2005, only one--18-year-old Katie Barnoskie of Kansas--qualified. In 2006, 4 Juniors quaified and 3 competed--Sam Danenbring (SD), Daniel Agnew (OK), Amanda Russell (TX). And Daniel Agnew placed a remarkable 6th overall!

A: No. Athletes have one opportunity to qualify, and that is in the qualifying event that is in, or serves, the state in which they reside.

A: No. You will have the option of attempting to qualify in either California or Vermont. If you race in both qualifiers, your results from the earliest event, in this case the Vermont Qualifier on June 5 (California's Qualifier is on July 10), will be official.

A: In 2007, DC athletes will, ostensibly, be considered residents of Maryland, for the purposes of this competition. If however, at least two DC athletes place among the top 5 MD/DC amateur male or female finishers at the Columbia Qualifier, then "Best of the US..." management will consider giving Washington, DC full state status in the future. DC athletes did not finish in "passdown" positions the last 2 years.

A: No. You have an annual license that won't expire until the end of the calendar year.

A: Because we want to create the "perfect wave." At Nationals and Worlds, athletes compete primarily against their respective age groups. At the "Best of the US Championship" America's best amateur triathletes, regardless of age, will start in the same wave. Since most of the participants will, ostensibly, be "State Champions" (sure, there will be a percentage of "passdown" athletes participating), the quality of the competition will be unprecedented. And as such, the event will be incredibly newsworthy. American amateur Triathletes should finally get the "love" they deserve.

A: Immediately after each qualifying race, winners and passdown recipients will be asked to visit http://bestoftheustriathletes.com/forms/winner_questionnaire.php and fill out a questionnaire. This will allow "Best of the US..." management to stay in touch with all potential Championship attendees and to notify the "next-in-line" as soon as it is known that the athlete or athletes ahead of them are unable to make the trip to Minnesota.
IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM THE RESIDENT AMATEUR WINNER WITHIN 14 DAYS AFTER THEIR QUALIFIER, WE WILL ASSUME THAT HE/SHE IS UNABLE TO ATTEND THE CHAMPIONSHIP. WE WILL THEN CONTACT THE NEXT ATHLETE IN LINE.

A: Great question! The answer is YES. Some assume that those in the 23 & under program are, ostensibly, pros because they are allowed to race in ITU draft-legal Olympic format events. The truth is they are licensed as amateurs, and as such, we wholehearted encourage these talented athletes to race in their respective state's "Best of the US" Qualifier.

A: Great question. Athletes winning qualifying events must contact us within 14 days of their victories in order to claim their slots. If they fail to do so, the slot will be offered to the next athlete in line. In deference to travel issues, winners of qualifiers that are staged after August 13, have one week to contact us.

A: We contacted every event in your state that we are aware of via e-mail. None have responded to our inquiries.