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!

Check out the 2025 race schedule!

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!

Sign up for a clinic!

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.

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:

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

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.

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.

Apply Today!

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.

Successful completion of a USAT-Sanctioned or World Triathlon Para sprint distance triathlon between the following distances since May 2024.

Within the minimum finishing time noted below:

Successful completion of a 2025 Paratriathlon Nationals Qualifier Series event as outlined below:

Within the minimum finishing times noted below:

*** 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.