Paratriathlon Nationals Qualifier Series
The 2025 USA Paratriathlon Nationals Qualifier Series is the premiere national-level racing circuit for up-and-coming paratriathletes in the United States. The aim of the series is to provide increased domestic competitive opportunities for the nation’s emerging paratriathletes.
2025 Paratriathlon Nationals Qualifier Series#
The USA Paratriathlon Nationals Qualifier Race Series is the premiere national-level racing circuit for up-and-coming paratriathletes in the United States. The aim of the series is to provide increased domestic competitive opportunities for the nation’s emerging paratriathletes. The Paratriathlon National Qualifier Race Series provides paratriathletes and ATD1 athletes opportunities to race sprint distance races following USAT and World Triathlon paratriathlon competition rules. These races also offer a chance to qualify for the 2025 and 2026 USAT Paratriathlon National Championships with slightly more generous time standards than at other USAT-sanctioned races.
Post-race, athletes accumulating points in a minimum of two series races and Nationals will receive series rankings. Top-ranked athletes will be awarded a sponsor-provided prize (details forthcoming) and recognized in our newsletter, website, and social media channels.
To work toward your series standings and qualifying for Paratriathlon National Championships, sign up for your races now!
Athletes who compete in two Series races plus Nationals, and have the highest overall rankings within their category and gender for all 3 races, will earn the Award Package! This includes a Rudy Project EGOS Helmet, Rudy Project Sunglasses, a Synergy Transition Bags, a bag of Ka’Chava AND a TrainingPeaks Athlete Annual Premium Account!
Before each race, a USA Triathlon Certified Coach will host a clinic to help guide athletes through the course. Athletes who race at least two Series events and Paratriathlon Nationals will accumulate points and receive a Series ranking. The top-ranked athletes will be awarded a sponsor-provided prize (details forthcoming) and recognized in our newsletter, on our website, and social media channels!
Paratriathletes wishing to race in this series should have a USAT National Classification or a World Triathlon Classification of a “C” or “R” or “P” and be 16 years of age or older as of December 31, 2025.
If you have not yet been classified, you will need to have a good estimate of your future classification sport class so that you can register properly for the races. Please contact Chris Palmquist at cspalmquist@gmail.com if you need some guidance on how you might estimate your sport class.
To request a classification appointment, you will need to qualify for and register for the USAT Paratriathlon National Championships in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Aug. 10. Please send your medical diagnosis to paratriathlon@usatriathlon.org and Chris Palmquist at cspalmquist@gmail.com. Additional medical documentation needed for classification can be found here: https://www.usatriathlon.org/adaptive-athletes/classification
- A National Classification opportunity will be offered in conjunction with the USAT Paratriatlon National Championships in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Aug. 10.
Paratriathlon Nationals Qualification Standards are slightly more generous at Series races. See below for the time standards that you need to meet with any 2024 or 2025 USAT Paratriathlon Nationals Qualifier Series to qualify for the 2025 USAT Paratriathlon National Championships in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Aug. 10. Remember that you must be qualified for and registered for Para Nationals to request a National Classification Appointment.
Sport Class | Paratriathlon Nationals Qualification at Paratriathlon Nationals Qualifier Series |
Women PTWC | 1:34:31 |
Women PTS2 | 1:51:08 |
Women PTS3 | 1:47:26 |
Women PTS4 | 1:48:09 |
Women PTS5 | 1:33:55 |
Women PTVI | 1:32:06 |
Men PTWC | 1:19:19 |
Men PTS2 | 1:37:40 |
Men PTS3 | 1:35:34 |
Men PTS4 | 1:23:54 |
Men PTS5 | 1:23:12 |
Men PTVI | 1:22:28 |
Awards or Recognition Certificates will be given at each series race and the USA Paratriathlon National Championships to the top three (3) athletes in each medal event and within each gender.
Medal events are as follows for the eight (8) series races and USA Paratriathlon National Championships:
Medal Event: PTWC | |
|---|---|
| Women | Men |
| 1st | 1st |
| 2nd | 2nd |
| 3rd | 3rd |
| Medal Event: PTS2 | Medal Event: PTS3 | Medal Event: PTS4 | Medal Event: PTS5 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Women | Men | Women | Men | Women | Men | Women | Men |
| 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st |
| 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd |
| 3rd | 3rd | 3rd | 3rd | 3rd | 3rd | 3rd | 3rd |
Medal Event: PTVI | |
|---|---|
Women | Men |
| 1st Athlete 1st Guide | 1st Athlete 1st Guide |
| 2nd Athlete 2nd Guide | 2nd Athlete 2nd Guide |
| 3rd Athlete 3rd Guide | 3rd Athlete 3rd Guide |
To be eligible for awards athletes must: race in the Paratriathlon division, be a U.S. citizen or U.S. National, hold a valid USAT annual USAT membership or elite paratriathlete membership and have a “C”, “R”, or “P” sport class status from USAT or World Triathlon. Athletes who hold USA Paratriathlon National Team status are eligible to compete at the USA Paratriathlon National Championships.
Each individual's series ranking will be determined by their two highest scores and their score from Nationals. These three scores will be summed to produce a cumulative series score.
1st place athletes in each classification category and gender will receive 20 points, 2nd place will receive 15 points, 3rd place will receive 10 pts and each place behind that will receive 2 points less. Everyone placing past 7th will receive 2 points.
Athletes who compete in two Series races plus Nationals, and have the highest overall rankings within their category and gender for all 3 races, will earn the Award Package! This includes a Rudy Project EGOS Helmet, Rudy Project Sunglasses, a Synergy Transition Bags, a bag of Ka’Chava AND a TrainingPeaks Athlete Annual Premium Account!
2025 Paratriathlon Nationals Qualifier Series Full Leaderboard
Additional Information#
All athletes competing in the series must hold a current annual USAT membership. Memberships can be purchased by clicking here.
USAT Rule modifications for paratriathletes can be found here: https://www.teamusa.org
Any questions on these rules can be directed to Mark Turner, USAT Commissioner of Officials: mark.turner@usatriathlon.org
General questions about the Series can be directed to Chris Palmquist at cspalmquist@gmail.com.
USA Triathlon routinely hosts Virtual Combines to help find and recruit new paratriathlon talent. Athletes who submit times will be considered for a Paratriathlon Development Camp opportunity. Virtual Combines provide athletes an outlet for goal setting and friendly competition outside of racing and give athletes an opportunity to gauge and track your current fitness and prepare and sharpen for potential future racing.
How Virtual Combines work:
- During a month's span, athletes complete two time trials (TTs) — a 200-meter swim and a 1-kilometer run
- Athletes submit their times to USA Triathlon
- USA Triathlon's high performance team analyzes the times and invites select athletes to Development Camp
- Submit your Virtual Combine time
- For more information, email benchmark@usatriathlon.org.
2025 Paratriathlon National Championships#
Any athlete that wishes to compete in the National Championship division at the 2025 USA Paratriathlon National Championship must be officially classified and placed in a USA Paratriathlon Category as outlined in USA Triathlon’s Competitive Rules. If an athlete does not classify or does not qualify via the time standards, they may race in the Adaptive Triathlon Division 1 (ATD1).
Once you have met the qualifying time for your sport class as outlined below, please email Chris Palmquist cspalmquist@gmail.com with your race results, race distance, and race dates to be authorized to register for the 2025 Paratriathlon National Championships in the championship division.
- Athlete must be eligible under all applicable rules of World Triathlon (www.triathlon.org), the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (www.usada.org), and USA Triathlon.
- Athlete must be an annual member in good standing of USA Triathlon.
- Paratriathlon Category Classification: Each athlete must be Officially Classified and placed in a USA Paratriathlon Category as outlined in USA Triathlon’s Competitive Rules.
- PTWC - Wheelchair users. Athletes must use a recumbent handcycle on the bike course and a racing wheelchair on the run segment
- PTS2 - Severe Impairments. In both bike and run segments, amputee athletes may use approved prosthesis or other supportive devices.
- PTS3 – Significant Impairments. In both bike and run segments, the athlete may use approved prosthesis or other supportive devices.
- PTS4 – Moderate Impairments. In both bike and run segments, the athlete may use approved prosthesis or other supportive devices.
- PTS5 – Mild Impairments. In both bike and run segments, the athlete may use approved prosthesis or other supportive device.
- PTVI - Total or Partial visual Impairment (IBSA/IPC defined sub-classes B1, B2, and B3): Includes athletes who are totally blind, from no light perception in either eye, to some light perception (B1) and partially sighted athletes (B2, B3). One guide is mandatory throughout the race. Must ride a tandem during the bike segment.
Challenged Athletes Foundation is offering travel grants for Paratriathlon Nationals. Submissions are due by July 20 and USAT will notify CAF grant recipients by July 31. You will need to have registered for Paratriathlon Nationals and confirmed you will be participating at Paratriathlon Nationals or in the adaptive divisions. This grant is for travel, lodging or race entry. The athlete must compete at the event and reimbursement will be coordinated after the race. USA Triathlon National and Junior U23 Team members are not eligible for this grant.
Texas Parasport
Texas Parasport is offering a National Championship Grant to support athletes of all ages training and competing at the highest level. Athletes attending Paratriathlon National Championship can apply for this grant. The max amount of each grant is $500.
Criteria:
- You must reside in Texas.
- You must have a Paralympic eligible disability.
- You must participate in weekly programs within Texas.
- You must compete at Texas Parasport Games if your sport is offered.
- Grant recipients will wear Texas Parasport apparel while at the event in which we are supporting and thank Texas Parasport on social media.
Please email Jenn Weatherford for application details.
Catapult Grant Program
Team Catapult's athlete grant program aids athletes with physical disabilities in costs related to the world of adaptive sports and can be used toward equipment, race entry or travel costs. For more information click here and email hello@teamcatapult.org. As the main support for the Paratriathlon Nationals Qualifier Series race, Lago Mar, Catapult will also be offering a hotel stipend for athletes participating in this excellent Texas race! Email Linda Fox at linda@teamcatapult.org and hello@teamcatapult.org to confirm your interest.
*If an athlete has not been classified and unsure what sport class they fit into, please email Paratriathlon@usatriathlon.org with the medical diagnosis form available on our website and we will make an educated guess as to which sport class the athlete fits until a classification assessment can take place
**All final determinations on sport class and qualification will be determined at the national classification opportunity in the days leading into the event. Please note there is a chance that if an athlete changes sport classes from the educated guess they will need to show proof of a qualification race in the new sport class within the specified qualification time.
Paratriathlon National Championship Division#
The athlete must choose between option A or B, below, in order to be eligible to compete in the National Championship division:
Successful completion of a USAT-Sanctioned or World Triathlon Para sprint distance triathlon between the following distances since May 2024.
| Swim | Bike | Run |
|---|---|---|
400 m - 1,000 m | 15 km - 30 km | 3 km - 6 km |
Within the minimum finishing time noted below:
| Sport Class | 2025 Qualification |
|---|---|
| Women PWTC | 1:27:46 |
| Women PTS2 | 1:43:12 |
| Women PTS3 | 1:39:45 |
| Women PTS4 | 1:40:26 |
| Women PTS5 | 1:27:13 |
| Women PTVI | 1:25:31 |
| Men PTWC | 1:13:39 |
| Men PTS2 | 1:30:42 |
| Men PTS3 | 1:28:45 |
| Men PTS4 | 1:17:55 |
| Men PTS5 | 1:17:16 |
| Men PTVI | 1:16:34 |
Successful completion of a 2025 Paratriathlon Nationals Qualifier Series event as outlined below:
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
CLASH Endurance Miami | Homestead, Fla. | March 30, 2025 |
St. Anthony's Triathlon | St. Petersburg, Fla. | April 27, 2025 |
Lago Mar Triathlon | Texas City, Texas | May 18, 2025 |
Leon's Triathlon (hosted alongside USA Triathlon Military and First Responders National Championships) | Hammond, Ind. | June 1, 2025 |
Treasure Valley Triathlon | Boise, Idaho | June 7, 2025 |
Got the Nerve Triathlon | Ephrata, Pa. | June 22, 2025 |
Pleasant Prairie Triathlon | Pleasant Prairie, Wis. | June 22, 2025 |
Long Beach Legacy Triathlon | Long Beach, Calif. | July 20, 2025 |
USA Paratriathlon National Championships (hosted alongside USA Triathlon Sprint and Olympic Distance National Championships) | Milwaukee, Wis. | August 10, 2025 |
Within the minimum finishing times noted below:
| Sport Class | 2025 Qualification |
|---|---|
| Women PTWC | 1:34:31 |
| Women PTS2 | 1:51:08 |
| Women PTS3 | 1:35:34 |
| Women PTS4 | 1:48:09 |
| Women PTS5 | 1:33:55 |
| Women PTVI | 1:32:06 |
| Men PTWC | 1:19:19 |
| Men PTS2 | 1:37:40 |
| Men PTS3 | 1:35:34 |
| Men PTS4 | 1:23:54 |
| Men PTS5 | 1:23:12 |
| Men PTVI | 1:22:28 |
*** Please note that the Option A qualification times are derived by adding 30% to the 2024 World Triathlon Para World Champion finishing time and Option B is by adding 40%. This is done to showcase which athletes will, or could soon, score points at World Triathlon Para races and be able to enter the elite pipeline.
Registration for the National Championship will close on a later date.
Paratriathlon Sport Classes #
All paratriathletes must compete within their USAT-approved sport class. There are nine sport classes in paratriathlon that compete in six medal events. PTWC1 and PTWC2 classes compete in the PTWC Medal Event. All the ambulant classes, PTS2-PTS5, compete in their own Medal Events. PTVI1, PTVI2 and PTVI3 compete into the PTVI Medal Event.
PTS2
Severe impairments. In both bike and run segments, amputee athletes may use approved prosthesis or other supportive devices. Includes athletes with comparable activity limitation and an impairment of, but not limited to, limb deficiency, hypertonia, ataxia and or athetosis, impaired muscle power or range of movement.
Competes in PTS2 Medal Event.
PTS3
Significant impairments. In both bike and run segments, amputee athletes may use approved prosthesis or other supportive devices. Includes athletes with comparable activity limitation and an impairment of, but not limited to, limb deficiency, hypertonia, ataxia and or athetosis, impaired muscle power or range of movement.
Competes in PTS3 Medal Event.
PTS4
Moderate impairments. In both bike and run segments, amputee athletes may use approved prosthesis or other supportive devices. Includes athletes with comparable activity limitation and an impairment of, but not limited to, limb deficiency, hypertonia, ataxia and or athetosis, impaired muscle power or range of movement.
Competes in PTS4 Medal Event.
PTS5
Mild impairments. In both bike and run segments, amputee athletes may use approved prosthesis or other supportive devices. Includes athletes with comparable activity limitation and an impairment of, but not limited to, limb deficiency, hypertonia, ataxia and or athetosis, impaired muscle power or range of movement.
Competes in PTS5 Medal Event.
PTWC
PTWC1: Most impaired wheelchair users
PTWC2: Least impaired wheelchair users.
Athletes must use a recumbent handcycle on the bike course and a racing wheelchair on the run segment; Includes athletes with comparable activity limitation and an impairment of, but not limited to: muscle power, limb deficiency, hypertonia, ataxia or athetosis.
Competes in PTWC Medal Event.
PTVI
PTVI1: Includes athletes who are totally blind, from no light perception in either eye, to some light perception.
PTVI2: Includes athletes who are more severe partially sighted athletes.
PTVI3: Includes athletes who are less severe partially sighted athletes.
One guide is mandatory throughout the race. Must ride a tandem during the bike segment. A guide from the same nationality and gender is mandatory throughout the race. Must ride a tandem during the bike segment.
Competes in PTVI Medal Event.
ATD1 (Adaptive Triathlon Division 1)
Ambulatory
This division is open to athletes with physical and visual impairments that are not able to be classified into Championship Paratriathlon competition categories or choose not to do so. It is also open to athletes who choose not to race according to USA Triathlon or World Triathlon Paratriathlon rules, for example by choosing different equipment or racing with a guide of a different gender.
ADT1 Ambulatory – This subdivision is for ambulatory athletes competing with limb deficiencies, with or without prostheses, but without the use of a wheelchair. This includes athletes with amputations of one or more limb or limited mobility of one or more limb.
Remember, athletes racing in ADT1 are not required to have formal para classification. Athletes with formal para classification, however, are allowed to participate in ADT1.
ATD1 (Adaptive Triathlon Division 1)
Wheelchair
This division is open to athletes with physical and visual impairments that are not able to be classified into Championship Paratriathlon competition categories or choose not to do so. It is also open to athletes who choose not to race according to USA Triathlon or World Triathlon Paratriathlon rules, for example by choosing different equipment or racing with a guide of a different gender.
ATD1 Wheelchair – The ATD1 Wheelchair sub-division is for athletes with physical impairments that require the use of a handcycle on the bike course and a racing wheelchair on the run course.
Remember, athletes racing in ADT1 are not required to have formal para classification. Athletes with formal para classification, however, are allowed to participate in ADT1.
ATD1 (Adaptive Triathlon Division 1)
Visually Impaired
This division is open to athletes with physical and visual impairments that are not able to be classified into Championship Paratriathlon competition categories or choose not to do so. It is also open to athletes who choose not to race according to USA Triathlon or World Triathlon Paratriathlon rules, for example by choosing different equipment or racing with a guide of a different gender.
ADT1 Visually Impaired – This sub-division ADT1 is for athletes with visual Impairments. Athletes in this sub-division have low to no vision and will race with co-athletes.
Remember, athletes racing in ADT1 are not required to have formal para classification. Athletes with formal para classification, however, are allowed to participate in ADT1.