Earlier this year, the NCAA Triathlon Nationals’ long-standing venue in Tempe, Arizona, was moved to Clermont, Florida. Numerous sources sated several reasons were cited for the shift:
Heat Concerns in Arizona: Organizers cited concerns about Arizona’s high temperatures, despite last year’s race taking place in mild conditions around the low 80s with very low humidity.
Perceived Home-Course Advantage for ASU: Hosting Nationals at Arizona State University (ASU) was seen as potentially giving ASU athletes an unfair advantage, despite ASU’s lack of prior access to preview the course.
Travel Costs for East Coast Schools: The expense for East Coast programs to travel to Arizona each year has been stated as a concern. If this is true, this is a massive issue in regards to the sports chance of hitting Championship Status.
Rejection of a Heats-Finals Format: A proposal for a two-day super-sprint “heats-finals” format was quickly dismissed as impractical, citing that multi-day racing logistics were not feasible for the sport. Read my: Why NCAA Tri Could Potentially Replicate Super League Triathlon Blog for more details.
On my podcast with Cliff English, I argued that Tempe is an ideal location for NCAA Nationals due to its consistent weather in November—a key factor when hosting an event at the pinnacle of the triathlon season. Given the sport’s complexity, stability in race conditions is critical. If rotating venues is desired, I believe a compromise would be to alternate between Arizona State University and Texas Christian University (TCU), both of which offer relatively consistent fall weather. Although Texas does have a heightened thunderstorm chance.
The irony? Despite earlier rejecting a multi-day format, the recent announcement confirms that the new Clermont venue will adopt exactly that. After unforeseen issues with the primary swim location, the race is now set to span over two days: athletes will complete the swim at an alternate lake on Friday, and times will be recorded. Then, on Saturday, competitors will tackle the 20k bike, 5k run, and transitions, with staggered starts based on Friday’s swim results.
The weather forecast underscores the debate. Clermont is expected to hit 84°F on Friday and 85°F on Saturday, with a 75% chance of thunderstorms on Thursday. In contrast, Tempe's forecast boasts race-perfect weather, with a high of 71°F on Friday and 76°F on Saturday, and zero chance of rain,
In Tempe, these athletes would be racing in ideal conditions, showcasing the sport in a standard triathlon format they train so rigorously for. Instead, a fragmented, weather-prone setup in Florida risks undermining the sport’s growth. For a national championship, it’s crucial to prioritize conditions that allow these athletes to perform at their peak. Here’s to hoping this experience drives a more thoughtful venue selection process in the future, putting athletes’ interests—and triathlon’s integrity—first.
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