**(trying to get this information posted in as many places as possible since the decision to add an elite wave was just made. In a nutshell, USAT rankings will be given to elite wave participants in this race thru a USAT rules dispensation process. Participants in this wave will be eligible for prize money but not age group awards. You must compete in this wave to be eligible for the prize money) **
An elite wave will be included in this year’s Evergreen Lake Triathlon to be held on Saturday, July 21 at Comlara County Park, Hudson, IL.
This will be the first swim wave and will be open to any interested participants. Elite wave participants will be eligible for overall awards and prize money but NOT age group awards. Only participants in this wave will be eligible for the prize money. *
A rule dispensation request for this race has been granted by USAT so that participants in the elite wave WILL be included in the 2007 USAT rankings.**
Wave #1 will also include collegiate athletes who will be competing in the Midwest College Triathlon Conference Championship to be contested at the Evergreen Lake Tri.
The elite wave will be limited to 75 participants.
The addition of this special wave allows for head to head competition among those participants racing for prize money, the Best of the US state titles, and the regional collegiate championship title.
The wave breakdown for 2007 will be as follows: 7:00 am, Wave #1: Elite/Collegiate (male and female) 7:03 am, Wave #2: Men 34 and under 7:06 am, Wave #3: Men 35-44 7:09 am, Wave #4: Men 45 and over 7:12 am, Wave #5: Women 39 and under 7:15 am, Wave #6: Women 40 and over, Relay Teams, Clydesdales, Athenas If you would like to be placed in the Elite wave, please email Trimomevents@verizon.net. Volunteers at packet pick up will also be asking all participants if they wish to compete in the Elite wave.
*2007 Evergreen Lake Triathlon Prize Purse (Male and Female) 1st Place, $1,000 2nd Place, $500 3rd Place, $250
**From USAT
There have been several inquiries over the last couple years from race directors and athletes requesting that ‘elite amateur’ waves be included in the rankings. Due to the capabilities of the new pacesetter rankings system, it has been shown that any perceived advantage participants in this wave have is nullified in the new system, allowing fair rankings to be assigned to these waves when they are ranked amongst each other. The USAT staff and Race Director Committee have agreed to rank athletes in these waves through the rules dispensation process. Note this does not create a new rankings category, the ‘elite amateur’ wave will be ranked as its own race, and the athletes then put into their respective age groups in the national rankings system. Please note that athletes that compete in the ‘elite amateur’ wave are not eligible for age group awards.
For more information on this race including a 2007 participant list and 2006 results, visit www.evergreentri.com
Colleen Klein
Race Director