U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Medalists to Race 2024 Americas Triathlon Championships at CLASH Miami

February 28, 2024

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo./ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – U.S. Olympic and Paralympic medalists, Paris 2024 hopefuls and future stars of the sport are among the notable athletes racing at the 2024 Americas Triathlon & Paratriathlon Championships at CLASH Miami on March 8 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

U.S. Paralympic medalists Grace Norman (Jamestown, Ohio), Allysa Seely (Glendale, Ariz.) and Hailey Danz (Wauwatosa, Wis.), along with U.S. Olympic medalists Katie Zaferes (Hampstead, Md.) and Morgan Pearson (New Vernon, N.J.) lead the U.S. elite paratriathletes and triathletes set to make their 2024 season debuts in Miami.

“We are so excited to collaborate with CLASH Endurance for the Americas Triathlon & Paratriathlon Championships Miami at Homestead-Miami Speedway,” said Victoria Brumfield, CEO of USA Triathlon. “This is an amazing opportunity for U.S. elite athletes to race here on home soil at an excellent triathlon venue in Miami. Elite paratriathletes are racing for qualification to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and elite triathletes, from U23 to seasoned veterans are racing for critical World Triathlon rankings points. You’ll see some of the best, brightest, and fastest athletes across North, Central and South America. We hope to see you in Miami for an exciting three days of racing.”

“CLASH has been pushing the boundaries in triathlon and we are thrilled to host these incredible athletes as part of their journey toward the 2024 Paris Olympics,” says CLASH Endurance COO, Andre Lapar.

Paralympians Race for Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Qualification

U.S. elite paratriathletes will race to secure their spots for the Paris 2024 Paralympics at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Americas Paratriathlon Championships Miami race is the final auto-qualification opportunity for U.S. elite paratriathletes to punch their ticket to Paris 2024. To qualify, athletes must win their classification. To learn more about the U.S. qualification pathway to the Paris 2024 Paralympic and Olympic Games, read here.

Five U.S. elite paratriathletes have already qualified for Paris 2024: Norman, Danz, Kelly Elmlinger, Kendall Gretsch and Mohamed Lahna.

The women’s PTS2 classification will be a battle among Danz (2016, 2020 Paralympic silver medalist), Seely (2016, 2020 Paralympic gold medalist) and Melissa Stockwell (2016 Paralympic bronze medalist).

Norman (2016 Paralympic gold medalist, 2020 silver medalist) leads the way in the women’s PTS5 classification, coming off an undefeated 2023 season, while Elmlinger — also coming to Miami after an undefeated 2023 season — will look to start the season strong ahead of her second Paralympic Games appearance this summer in Paris.

Fellow U.S. Elite Paratriathlon Triathlon National Team members racing in Miami looking to qualify for Paris 2024 include:

Howie Sanborn (Denver, Colo., PTWC)

Mark Barr (Davis, Calif, PTS2, 2016 Paralympian)

Carson Clough (Charlotte, N.C., PTS4)

Chris Hammer (Gilbert, Ariz., PTS5, 2012, 2016, 2020 Paralympian)

Owen Cravens (Tempe, Ariz., PTVI)

Kyle Coon (Colorado Springs, Colo., PTVI, 2020 Paralympian)

For bios of U.S. Elite Paratriathlon National Team members, click here.

Olympians, Future Olympians Begin Journey to Paris and LA

Olympians Zaferes and Pearson begin their season in Miami at the Americas Triathlon Championships. Both members of the silver-medal-winning Mixed Relay Team from the Tokyo 2020 Games, Zaferes and Pearson are primed to start their 2024 elite racing season on a high note.

Pearson has already qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, while Zaferes is on the hunt. The Miami race offers important World Triathlon rankings points for Zaferes as she chases her third Olympic Games. In Tokyo, she won bronze in the women’s individual race in addition to the Mixed Relay silver. Following Tokyo, she and her husband, Tommy Zaferes, welcomed their first child.

Also representing the U.S. Elite Triathlon National Team in Miami are up-and-comers Erika Acklerund (Helena, Mont.) and Gina Sereno (Madison, Wis.). The pair represented the U.S. at the 2023 Pan American Games.

For bios of U.S. Elite Triathlon National Team members, click here.

Chase McQueen (Columbus, Ind.) and Darr Smith (Atlanta, Ga.) are two up-and-coming U.S. men who will push Pearson in the men’s Elite race. The pair are alums of Project Podium, USA Triathlon’s elite development squad based in Tempe, Arizona.  Led by 2022 USA Triathlon Olympic Coach of the Year Parker Spencer, Project Podium identifies and recruits top U.S. running and swimming talent, providing 8-10 college-aged athletes a daily triathlon training environment, a path to elite triathlon development and medal performances on the world’s biggest stage, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games. In 2023 Project Podium had three men (Luke Anthony, Reese Vannerson, Carter Stuhlmacher,) in the top eight for the first time ever at Junior World Championships.

Four current Project Podium athletes will race in Miami in the U23 race: Drew Shellenberger, Stuhlmacher, Keller Norland and Sullivan Middaugh.

Follow the daily training of Project Podium athletes on Instagram @usatprojectpodium.

Media Credentials for Miami

For media interested in covering the 2024 Americas Triathlon Championships at CLASH Miami, please fill out the following media inquiry form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdznZp6rORUxDgBs33BNYrJxvBQC7Jzzlpu_Q7q6HcDq3RbOA/viewform

CLASH Endurance® is an innovative sports media and event company led by athletes to provide exceptional race experiences at iconic speedways across the U.S.  We embrace inclusion and welcome athletes of all ages and abilities, from elite professionals to first-time participants. CLASH Endurance had four events in 2022 and continues to expand across the sports of triathlon, mountain biking, road and trail running. The popular CLASH Endurance DAYTONA is held at the Daytona International Speedway®, home of “The Great American Race™®”—the Daytona 500 and is featured on NBC. The Daytona 2 Beach Half Marathon takes thousands of athletes on a scenic tour of Daytona and its numerous communities and attractions each February. In addition, CLASH Endurance Miami takes place in March and continues to draw a decorated pro field and weekend warriors for a unique course at the Homestead-Miami Speedway®.  More information around CLASH Endurance and its events can be found at www.clashendurance.com.  Media interested in covering an event or with inquiries may direct them to Blair LaHaye, blair@clash-usa.com, 727-808-0646.

About USA Triathlon

USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon, paratriathlon, and indoor and virtual multisport events in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,000 races and connects with more than 400,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Triathlon Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of World Triathlon and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).

– usatriathlon.org –