USAT AAC

Hello,
The AAC is currently reviewing the following PROPOSED draft of 2008
Worlds Criteria- you'll see that it's significantly different than
criteria that's been used in the past. Please let us know your
thoughts on this.
Thanks,
Alison & Your AAC
AlisonAAC@Yahoo.com

ITU World Championships Elite Team Selection Criteria
2008
1. Introduction
The 2008 ITU World Championships Elite Team Selection Criteria (the
"Criteria") will be used to determine the athletes that will represent
the United States in the 2008 ITU World Championships in Vancouver,
Canada on June 8, 2008 (the "World Championships"). The criteria are
designed to require athletes to demonstrate proven international
performance excellence and to consistently demonstrate their abilities
at the highest levels of international triathlon competition.
Under ITU World Championships eligibility guidelines, the USA may
submit to the ITU up to a total of six (6) men and six (6) women to
compete in the elite division of the 2008 ITU World Championships.
However, if not enough men or women, or both, satisfy the applicable
requirements herein, USAT shall not be obligated to send a complete team.
2. Team Leaders and Domestiques
To maximize the USA's chances of achieving medal performances at the
ITU World Championships, and to effectively respond to the strategic
challenges posed by other competing nations, USA Triathlon will select
a team comprised of team leaders and domestiques. Team leaders will be
athletes designated as legitimate World Championships medal
contenders, and domestiques will be athletes tasked with providing
tactical support for team leaders during the competition.
Domestiques will be selected based primarily on demonstrated swim and
cycling ability. The discretionary nominations are subjective in
nature, and will be utilized to enhance the USA team's ability to
secure medals at the ITU World Championships. Nominated athletes and
their personal coaches will fully understand their individual
strategic roles within the team before being selected to the World
Championships Team, and will be required to train and prepare
specifically for that role.
3. Automatic Nominations (Team Leaders)
Automatic nominations to the 2008 World Championships Elite Team will
be awarded based on the following prioritized order:
3.1 Subject to the eligibility requirements set forth herein, an
automatic nomination to the 2008 World Championships Elite Team
(referred to as the "World Championships Elite Team") as a Team Leader
will be awarded to any athlete who earned a first, second, or third
place finish at the 2007 ITU World Championships in Hamburg, Germany,
provided that he/she is currently competing on the ITU World Cup
Circuit and has earned at least two (2) top ten finishes during the
2008 ITU World Cup season. If an athlete can't or won't participate in
designated events (any 2 World Cup Races) or fails to meet these
ongoing requirements, he or she may forfeit the automatic nomination.
An athlete may be exempted by USAT from this requirement due to injury
or lengthy illness, as long as the athlete can demonstrate to USAT's
satisfaction that; (i) the injury/illness has prevented or
significantly limited the athlete's ability to compete, and (ii) the
athlete is likely to have a level of fitness appropriate to compete at
a high level at the ITU World Championships, as determined by the
Sport Performance Director and the chair of the USAT Medical Committee.
3.2 Members of the 2008 USA Olympic Triathlon Team (as determined by
the first Olympic Selection Event at the 2007 Beijing ITU World Cup
and the second Olympic Selection Event in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on April
19, 2008) will be awarded an automatic nomination to the 2008 World
Championships Elite Team as a Team Leader.
World Championships Elite Team Selection Criteria (2008)
3.3 The second American athlete to finish at the second Olympic
Selection Event in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on April 19, 2008 will be
awarded an automatic nomination to the World Championships Elite Team
as a Team Leader, if the athlete has not already earned an automatic
nomination for the World Championships Elite Team. If the second
placed American athlete at the Tuscaloosa Olympic Selection Event has
already earned an automatic nomination to the World Championships
Elite Team, then the next American finisher at the Tuscaloosa Olympic
Selection Event will be awarded an automatic nomination to the World
Championships Elite Team, provided the athlete finishes within 5% of
the winner's time.
3.4 If an athlete declines their automatic nomination to the World
Championships Elite Team, nominations will be awarded based on finish
order (through the 5th place American finisher) at the second Olympic
Selection Event in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, provided the athlete finishes
within 5% of the winner's time. If any automatic nominations are still
available following this process, then the nominations will be
discretionarily awarded as outlined in Section 4, "Nomination of
Additional Athletes".
4. Nominations of Additional Athletes (Domestiques)
Remaining 2008 World Championships Elite Team spots will be awarded
based on the following prioritized order:
4.1 USA Triathlon reserves the right to utilize at least three (3)
discretionary nominations for the World Championships Elite Team if,
in the opinion of the World Cup Selection Committee, the discretionary
selections would better serve the interests and objectives of USA
Triathlon's Sport Performance Program. All athletes considered for
discretionary selection must meet the ITU World Championships
eligibility criteria. The following performance factors (in no
particular priority) will be considered for discretionary nomination:
4.1.1 Athletes with a proven record of success in ITU World Cups and
ITU World Championships who are returning from injury, illness, or
pregnancy and who have recently demonstrated their fitness to compete
at the World Championships level.
4.1.2 Athletes who have the ability to enhance the USA's chances of a
medal winning performance through specific team tactics.
4.1.3 An athlete's recent record of achievement in ITU race performance.
4.2 In the event that these rankings and the respective criteria do
not lead to a full team for the World Championships Elite Team, USAT
shall not be obligated to send a complete team to the 2008 ITU World
Championships.
5. Selection Eligibility
To be eligible for the World Championships Elite Team, each athlete
must be eligible under all applicable rules of ITU, the U.S.
Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), and USAT. In addition, each athlete must
be a member of USAT in good standing.
5.1 At the time of the 2008 ITU World Championships, the athlete must
demonstrate a level of fitness appropriate to compete at a high level
at the 2008 ITU World Championships, as determined by the Sport
Performance Director and the chair of the USAT Medical Committee.
6. Additional Requirements for Selection.
All athletes selected to the World Championships Elite Team will be
required to comply with all applicable rules and requirements of ITU,
WADA, USADA, and USAT, namely, and without limitation, each athlete
selected to the World Championship Elite Team shall:
2
World Championships Elite Team Selection Criteria (2008)
6.1 Sign and abide by USAT's Code of Conduct, any USAT or ITU Waiver
or Release, and conform to all USAT policies and protocol regarding
World Championship Elite Team preparation and participation.
6.2 Agree not to race any event longer than a standard triathlon
distance (1.5km/40km/10km) between the period beginning six (6) weeks
prior to the date of the World Championships (April 28, 2008) through
the date of the World Championships (June 8, 2008).
6.3 Agree to stay in lodging as a team for the ITU World
Championships. All travel and accommodation arrangements will be
coordinated by the Sport Performance Director and the National Teams
Program Manager.
7. World Championships Elite Team Final Selection
Following the second Olympic Trials Selection Event, all World
Championships Elite Team nominations will be reviewed by USAT's Sport
Performance Director and the World Cup Selection Committee to ensure
compliance with all requirements set forth herein. USAT may withhold a
nomination if the Sport Performance Director and the World Cup
Selection Committee find that an athlete has not satisfied the
requirements.
8. Submission of Entries
USAT will submit all entries for the competition to ITU 30 days prior
to the 2008 ITU World Championships.
9. Dismissal from World Championships Elite Team
Any athlete may be dismissed from the World Championship Elite Team at
any time following an appropriate hearing in compliance with the Ted
Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports and USOC Bylaws if; (i) the athlete
violates any of the applicable ITU, USAT, or other rules and
regulations applicable to the World Championship Elite Team or its
members, including without limitation applicable Codes of Conduct;
(ii) injury or illness as certified by a USAT Medical Committee member
in consultation with USAT (Sport Performance Director, the athlete's
coach, and the World Championship Elite Team Head Coach ), which
prevents the athlete from high level participation in and/or
preparation for the World Championships; or (iii) the Sport
Performance Director, in consultation with the athlete's coach and the
World Championship Elite Team Head Coach, determines that the athlete
is unable or unwilling to maintain a training regimen that is
necessary for peak performance in the World Championships.
10. Replacements to World Championship Elite Team
If, for any reason, a position on the World Championships Elite Team
shall become vacant, USAT may utilize discretionary selection for a
replacement athlete (team leader or domestique, as outlined in Section
4.1 of this document), provided the replacement athlete meets all
applicable Selection Criteria requirements set forth herein, agrees to
the Additional Requirements for Selection, and such replacement is
allowed by the ITU. In the event that no athlete meets all of these
criteria, or the ITU does not allow replacement, the vacancy shall not
be filled.
11. International Disclaimer
These Selection Criteria are based on the latest information available
to USAT and are based on ITU and USAT rules and regulations as
presently known and understood. Any change in the selection procedures
caused by a change in ITU or USAT rules and regulations or other
unforeseen circumstances will be distributed to the affected athletes
promptly, and USAT reserves the right to revise these Selection
Criteria in such event. 3

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Announcement from Skip Gilbert @ USA Triathlon:

Dear Potential Olympic Trials Athlete,

Our plans to host the Olympic Trials event in Honolulu have
unfortunately changed because the state of Hawaii has denied us a
significant financial grant. While that news is disappointing, I am
thrilled to announce that our National Events and Sport Performance
teams have worked quickly to secure what I believe will be a superior
event on April 19th, 2008 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Trials will be
run in conjunction with the 2008 Collegiate National Championships.
Full details on the event will be forthcoming in the very near future.

The course that has been designed will offer terrain similar to
Beijing and the event has the full support of the city of Tuscaloosa.
By holding the event just after the Collegiate National
Championships, over 1,000 collegiate triathletes will be able to
witness your inspiring performances and cheer your efforts in your
quest for the Olympic Team. Hopefully our switch to a more economical
travel destination means that additional family and friends will be
able to support you.

In closing, I hope that you will join me in the excitement of this
announcement and I wish you luck in your preparations for the Trials
and the full 2008 racing season.

Skip

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