With the aim of providing increased domestic competitive opportunities for the nation’s top paratriathletes, USA Triathlon has established the 2012 USA Paratriathlon Race Series, a three-race series held in conjunction with some of the nation’s top multisport events.

The sprint-distance series kicks off with the 2012 USA Paratriathlon National Championship, contested alongside the Capital of Texas Triathlon on May 28 in Austin, Texas. Paratriathlon Nationals will serve as the primary selection event for the 2012 ITU Paratriathlon World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand, on Oct. 22. Visit usatriathlon.org for a full list of qualification criteria.

Other 2012 USA Paratriathlon Race Series stops include the Denver Triathlon on June 10 and the Nickel City Triathlon on Sept. 16 in Buffalo, N.Y. - the day after the 2012 USA Triathlon Elite National Championship.

“This USA Paratriathlon Race Series will provide access to higher levels of competition and increased visibility for the sport of paratriathlon. It will be great for these inspirational athletes to go from a single event in the U.S. to a three-race series,” USA Triathlon High Performance Senior Manager Andy Schmitz said. “We are looking forward to the continued growth of paratriathlon in the U.S. and worldwide.”

Historically one of the world’s top paratriathlon performers, the U.S. has earned more than one-fourth of all possible podium finishes at the ITU Paratriathlon World Championships since 2008. Paratriathlon will make its Paralympic Games debut in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016.