Lego sisters named to regional Jr. triathlon team

USA Triathlon Southeast Region (USAT-SE) is pleased to announce that Taylor and Ashton Lego have been named for a consecutive year to the 2009 USA Triathlon Southeast Regional Junior Elite Team. Athletes between the ages of 13 and 19 years of age who have exceptional year end rankings with USA Triathlon or who have top finishes at youth or junior National Championship events can qualify for the team.

Talented athletes are selected from each of the states within the Southeast region. The Southeast Junior Team was started by USAT-SE in 2008 to promote youth and junior athlete development within the region. A Southeast Junior Team member won nearly every youth or junior 2008 Regional or State Championship title. The team also competed well outside of the region with top placing at USAT Youth Elite National Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo., the ITU Age Group World Championships in Vancouver, Canada and at the USAT National Age Group Championships in Portland, Ore. The squad was recently named a High Performance Junior Team by USAT Triathlon, one of only three news teams in the country to receive the honor.

Team members are outfitted with custom USAT-SE Region logo race attire and provided the opportunity to attend a training camp hosted by USAT regional and national team coaches. In addition to competing at regional junior development races, team members are required to volunteer at local multisport events and serve as ambassadors and role models to other young athletes in the Southeast Region.

USAT Southeast Region is very proud of the accomplishments of the team and is looking forward to expanding the team and continuing to support the youth and junior athletes in the Southeast. Development of these athletes is in accordance to USAT athlete development guidelines, which encourages young athletes to compete in age appropriate sprint distance races.

USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the national governing body for triathlon - the fastest growing sport in the United States. USAT sanctions 2,500 races and connects with more than 115,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work with athletes, coaches, and race directors on the grassroots level, USAT provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Championships, Pan American Games, and the Olympic Games.