Start list ALWAYS change but here is some nice insight.
The battle in the elite men’s race will be Olympian Morgan Pearson, who has already qualified for the 2024 US Olympic Team, Americans Darr Smith, and John Reed versus Martin Sobey, Mathis Beaulieu and Brock Hoel from Canada, Chileans Riveros and Moya, and Mexicans Gonzales and Grejales.
For the women, Katie Zaferes, Erika Ackerlund and Gina Sereno might be a podium sweep for Americans, but they could see a challenge from Macarena Salazar from Chile or Dofia Rodriguez Moreno from Mexico. This race is especially important for the American women who are trying to move up among the top 5 Americans in the world rankings for a potential start in the final Olympic Team selection event in May in Yokohama, Japan.
For the juniors, Miami is an opportunity to qualify country quota spots for the World Championships in October in Spain. Up to three spots per country for athletes who finish in the top 14 are up for grabs. In the junior men, Reese Vannerson from the USA leads the field. Vannerson led the American men at last year’s junior world championships finishing in 6th place just one second behind Mexico’s Osvaldo Darell Zuniga Fierro in 5th. They will be the class of the field in Miami and strong contenders for the 2028 Olympics.
For junior women, competing in Miami under the World Triathlon flag, but soon to be American Jimena Renata De La Pena Schott leads the field. Jimena won the silver medal at last year’s junior world championships and is a shining star for the future of USA Triathlon. Dominga Elena Jacome Espinoza, 6th place from 2023 Worlds, will fight Jimena for the top spot on the podium along with American Ruth Pardy.
In the Paratriathlon races, an American winner means an automatic spot on the 2024 USA Paralympic Team for Paris.
Look for World Triathlon Ranked #1 Howie Sanborn in the men’s wheelchair division to try and punch his ticket to Paris. American Emmie Perry will have to get by 2023 Worlds Bronze medalist Jessica Ferreira of Brazil and Leanne Taylor of Canada who was 5th at Worlds.
The visually impaired class features two American men- Young gun Owen Cravens and Paralympian Kyle Coon- who will push each other for the automatic trip to Paris. For the women VI class, Americans McClain Hermes and Deb Chucoski will attempt to get on the top step of the podium against Brazilian Letucia Freitas who finished just 10 seconds behind Hermes at worlds last year.
In the standing classes, the PTS2 women’s class is guaranteed to be an American sweep with only Americans entered. Reigning World Champion Hailey Danz will go against two-time Paralympic Gold Medalist Allysa Seely and Rio Paralympic Bronze medalist Melissa Stockwell. Danz has already qualified for the team, but if Seely or Stockwell can sneak by her for the win, they will also qualify. PTS2 Men will feature 2016 Paralympian Mark Barr for USA trying to make his second Paralympic Team. The only competitor in PTS3 for men will be American Zach Osborn with Hanna Longmire representing the US against 2023 Worlds Silver Medalist Kenia Yesenia Villalobos Vargas from Mexico for women. PTS4 Men will be a battle between Americans Carson Clough, 4th at the 2023 World Championships, Eric McElvenny and Erik Hultquist. PTS4 women, like the PTS2 class, is another all American race where World Champion Kelly Elmlinger leads the field. In the PTS5 men’s category, American Chris Hammer, 4th in the last two Paralympic Games, will try to punch his ticket to a third Games and another shot at a medal. He will have to get past his nemesis Stefan Daniel from Canada. PTS5 Women feature World Champion Grace Norman from the USA with Canadian Kamylle Frenette who should get onto the podium as well.