Successful Clemson Triathlon has Positive Economic Impact on Upstate

The largest field of collegiate triathletes across the United States competed in the City of Clemson this past Friday and Saturday during the 2016 USA Triathlon Collegiate Club National Championships. Jamie Cathey, program director for the City of Clemson’s Parks and Recreation Department said the races were a huge success this year. “It went really well. We crowned the first ever High School National Champions on Friday. We had a female winner who actually set the best time of the day for all the collegiate or high school athletes. Her name is Taylor Knibb, so that was fun to watch. Then Saturday, we had over 1,300 athletes competing for the National Championship. The male winner was from Penn State and the female winner was from Arizona.” With so many competitors taking part, the triathlon had a major economic impact on the community, continues Cathey. “We had nearly 1,500 athletes competing between all the races plus their support staffs plus parents. We just had a huge number of people in town. They were shopping in our shops, eating in our restaurants, and sleeping in our hotel rooms. We don’t have the numbers yet but it is a real high impact for the community.” Cathey thanks all those assisting with the triathlon. “First and foremost, we have to thank all the police officers and volunteers who were there to make the event possible. We are really thankful for Clemson University Athletics helping us and all the communities that were affected being patient with the road closings and coming out to support. We really had great community support this year and it was really incredible.” This was the second year that the City of Clemson hosted the triathlon and Cathey says plans are already in the works to bring it back again soon. “We don’t have anything on the calendar right now because it was a two year commitment for this one but we are definitely having that conversation about bringing it back.” To see results from the USA Triathlon in the City of Clemson, visit www.usatriathlon.org. Photos of the event can also be found on the City of Clemson’s Parks and Recreation’s Facebook page.