St. Anthony's Triathlon Registration Opens Oct. 1 for 35th Annual Race

Weekend of Events Slated April 27-29, 2018

News provided by

Sep 19, 2017, 16:30 ET

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Sept. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The St. Anthony's Triathlon, named one of the Top 10 Great Destination Triathlons in the United States by Compete Tri for its scenic route by the beautiful waters of Tampa Bay and through the tree-lined streets of St. Petersburg, will mark its 35^th year as one of the premier multisport races in the United States by kicking off registration Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017 at 9 a.m. Ranked as the fourth largest triathlon in the country by USA Triathlon, the Triathlon will be held April 27-29, 2018.

Triathletes race over Coffee Pot Bayou during the 2017 St. Anthony's Triathlon.

"When the Triathlon began, about 600 mostly local athletes participated. This year, we welcomed nearly 3,500 athletes from around the country and around the world. It's been an honor since 1983 to serve all of them," said Scott Smith, president of St. Anthony's Hospital. "This year was the first year that I had the privilege to participate in the Olympic-distance Triathlon. I can definitely see why athletes make this one of their annual races to attend."

The three-day event features a swim in Tampa Bay for athletes in the Olympic- and Sprint-distance races; a bike ride that takes athletes by modern high rises and into quiet neighborhoods whose streets have been described as flat and fast; and a run through one of St. Petersburg's oldest neighborhoods.

Athletes of all abilities ranging from professionals and amateurs who are Ironman champions and Olympic gold medalists to weekend warriors and celebrity athletes join in on the action. The 2017 race served as a USA Triathlon Regional Championship site. When athletes and their fans have finished the race, they can enjoy all that the Tampa Bay area has to offer including great dining, night life, a theme park, and of course, the beautiful beaches that West Central Florida is known for.

St. Anthony's Triathlon Weekend includes:

The Olympic-Distance Triathlon, which is known for its talented professional field. Defending champions are Cameron Dye and Lauren Goss.
The Meek & Mighty Triathlon, a race for novice adults and children who are new to the sport of triathlon.
The Sprint Triathlon, which made its debut in 2014 and features slightly shorter distances than the Olympic-distance race along the same course.

The Olympic distance Triathlon and the Sprint Triathlon will be Sunday, April 29, while the Meek & Mighty Triathlon will be Saturday, April 28.

In addition to the three races, the weekend also includes the St. Anthony's Triathlon Sports & Fitness Expo, a showcase of the latest equipment for multisport athletes, workshops for athletes to prepare for the races and information tables featuring various St. Anthony's Hospital and BayCare services.

The 2018 St. Anthony's Triathlon weekend events and registration fees are:

Friday, April 27 – Saturday, April 28:
Sports and Fitness Expo, Straub Park
Friday: Noon – 6 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Free.

Saturday, April 28:
Meek & Mighty Triathlon, North Shore Pool, 901 North Shore Drive
Shorter distance race for youth ages 7 – 14 and novice adults. 7:30 a.m. start time.
Individual registration fee: $45 by Dec. 31, 2017; $55 by March 31, 2018; $65 April 21, 2018.

Sunday, April 29:
St. Anthony's Triathlon, North Shore and Vinoy Parks
Olympic-distance race (1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run.) 6:50 a.m. start time
Individual registration fee: $150 by Dec. 31, 2017; $160 by March 31, 2018; $180 by April 21, 2018.

St. Anthony's Sprint Triathlon, North Shore and Vinoy Parks
(750-meter swim, 20K bike, 5K run). Approximately 8:45 a.m. start time
Individual registration fee: $80 by Dec. 31, 2017; $90 by March 31, 2018; $100 by April 21, 2018.

For more details about the events, athletes and fans may visit the St. Anthony's Triathlon Facebook page: Facebook.com/StAnthonysTriathlon or be part of the conversation using the hashtag, #StAnthonysTri.

About St. Anthony's Hospital
St. Anthony's Hospital is a 393-bed hospital founded in 1931 as a ministry of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. St. Anthony's has a rich history dedicated to improving the health of the community by providing high-quality, innovative and compassionate care. For more information on St. Anthony's, call (727) 953-6993 or go to www.BayCare.org/SAH.

About BayCare
BayCare is a leading not-for-profit health care system that connects individuals and families to a wide range of services at 14 hospitals and hundreds of other convenient locations throughout the Tampa Bay and central Florida regions. Inpatient and outpatient services include acute care, primary care, imaging, laboratory, behavioral health, home care, and wellness. Our mission is to improve the health of all we serve through community-owned, health care services that set the standard for high-quality, compassionate care. For more information visit www.BayCare.org.

SOURCE St. Anthony's Triathlon