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Tritonman 2026

USA Triathlon

Collegiate Triathlon Briefing

Head Referee: Maya Bryson

Race Directors: Shaina King/Kieran Stanko

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Competition Rules Governing Collegiate Triathlon

Draft Legal Collegiate Triathlon is an Age Group Competition and is governed by the USAT Triathlon Multisport Competition Rules for Draft Legal Age Group competition.*

*NOTE: Women’s Varsity Draft Legal Competition operates under the Age Group Draft Legal rules except where a variance or amendment has been granted by USA Triathlon

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Competitors must:

Always practice good sports conduct
Be responsible for their own safety, the safety of their own equipment and be considerate of the safety of others
Be responsible for understanding and following the multisport competition rules and race management requirements
Treat all others with respect and courtesy

For more information on Race Conduct please view the briefing at:

https://www.usatriathlon.org/multisport/rules

General and Race Conduct

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Competitors must:

Not obstruct or interfere with the forward progress or jeopardize the safety and welfare of another competitor, race official, spectator or member of the public
Not accept assistance from anyone other than an authorized technical official or member of the race staff/volunteers

General and Race Conduct

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Failure to comply with any of the General or Race Conduct Rules may result in the competitor receiving a penalty
It is not mandatory for an official to indicate that a rule violation will be reported or give a warning prior to issuing a penalty or reporting a rule violation in some situations. However, it is a best practice in most cases where a warning may be safely issued.
A competitor may complete the event except where instructed to withdraw by a medical officer

General and Race Conduct

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Gear: Uniform and Aero Bars

Sleeves ARE allowed.
Clip-on aero bars are no longer allowed in Draft-Legal racing.
Bar-end plugs in place.

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Gear: Swim Equipment

Swim caps will be in your race packet, timing chips will be distributed race morning.
Wet suits are forbidden if the water temperature is 78.1˚F or higher.
Wet suits are mandatory if the temperature is 60.62˚F
Water and air temperature will be taken 1 hour prior to the race start.

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Gear: Bike Equipment

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Gear: Helmet

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Gear: Helmet

Must meet or exceed safety standards of a National Federation associated with World Triathlon.
Clearly labeled by the manufacturer as satisfying such standards (original sticker in place).
Chin straps snug against chin.

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Gear: Athlete Numbers and Body Marking

All athletes will be assigned a race number.
Race Numbers will be assigned in a random order.
A bike frame number and helmet number will be provided at packet pick-up.
Athletes will be body marked with markers or temporary tattoos.
Every athlete must wear a timing chip/strap distributed on race morning.

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Race Day Check In

Athletes should arrive with body, bike and helmet numbering properly applied and visible.
Officials will review each athlete’s body markings, bike and helmet.

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Race Day Check In: Brake Levers

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Race Day Check In: Examples of Non-Compliant brake levers

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Race Day Check In: Transition

Only registered athletes allowed in Transition area.
Athletes rack bike at assigned position.
Once in Transition, bikes cannot be removed until competition begins.
Only equipment to be used during competition can be left in Transition.
Equipment (shoes, helmet, etc.) must be contained directly on, under or behind bike.
Marking Transition spot is not allowed.

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Race Day Check In: Transition

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Rules Reminders

Rules of Competition

The official rule set for the competition is the USA Triathlon Multisport Competition Rules which can be found at www.usatriathlon.org
It is the athletes’, coaches’, parents’ responsibility to know �the rules.
Questions about rules should be brought up prior to the competition, or to Officials when checking in to Transition.

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Swim Start

The swim segment has become increasingly more aggressive and as such will be monitored more closely by race officials. Athletes observed to be in violation of the rules prohibiting obstruction and unsportsmanlike conduct will be penalized up to and including disqualification from the event.

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Bike

You may not unbuckle your helmet, until after your bike is securely racked.
Bikes must be racked by:

Both handlebars/brake levers.
Front of seat (facing either direction).

All equipment/gear whether used or not must be placed in the athlete’s assigned Transition bin/basket by the end of T2 if provided.

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Run

Pacing of athletes by non-competitors is strictly prohibited.
Unauthorized Assistance is prohibited.

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Rules Reminders

Penalties

Warning – Verbal warning by Official to correct an issue �during competition.
Time Penalty – 10 or 5 second penalty served in Transition, �on the spot, or at the Penalty Box on the run course.

Disqualification (Red Card):

Athletes shown a Red Card by an Official may be disqualified.

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Rules Reminders: Penalties

Penalty Box (Tent)

Penalties not served in Transition will be served in the Penalty Box.
Penalty Box located on the road approx. 200m before �Finish Line at the inbound run turnaround.
For the draft Legal Races the athlete race number and penalty code will be written on white board at Penalty Box.

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Rules Reminder: Penalties

2.4.11. Acts of Agents The conduct of any agent acting with apparent authority on behalf of an athlete shall constitute grounds for penalizing the athlete if such agent’s conduct violates any of these Multisport Competition Rules.

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Rules Reminders: Penalties

Serving Your Penalty

Procedure:

Identify yourself;
Official will start timing penalty;
Must remain in Penalty Box entire time;
May not receive any outside assistance while �serving penalty;
Official will let you know when your time is served.

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Rules Reminders: Penalties

Penalties not served may result �in disqualification.

Check the Penalty Board.

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Rules Reminders: Protest

Athletes wishing to file a protest must follow the process detailed in the USAT Multisport Competition Rules.

That process can be found at https://www.usatriathlon.org/multisport/rules in section 15.

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Final Words

The expectation of USA Triathlon and the assigned officials is that you will race fairly.

If you do that everyone benefits.

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Final Words

Have a great race!

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Thank you for Racing with USA Triathlon!

Questions?

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Schedule, Course, and Race Day Info

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Overall Start Schedule and Awards

6:45 am – Draft Legal Female
8:00 am – Draft Legal Male
10:00 am – Draft Legal Awards Ceremony

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Draft Legal Female Schedule

5:00 am – Athlete Check-in/Transition Open
6:00 am – Packet Pickup Closes
6:10 am – Swim Course Open
6:30 am – All athletes out of water
6:35 am – Athletes Staged at Start
6:40 am – Transition Closes
6:45 am – Race Start

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Draft Legal Male Schedule

5:00 am – Athlete Check-in/Transition Open
6:00 am – Packet pickup closes
6:40 am – Transition closes
7:25 am – Swim Course Open
7:45 am – All athletes out of water
7:50 am – Athletes Staged at Start
8:00 am – Race Start

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Transition (Start of Race)

Athlete number assigned randomly.
Athlete rack location marked with placard.
Bikes racked by the seat nose pointing toward flow of traffic.
Gear on bike, behind front wheel of bike or in Transition Bin.
Once racked in Transition, bike may not be removed �until competion begins.

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Swim Course - 750M (1 Lap)

In water start.
Clockwise – 1 Lap (buoys on right, except last buoy will be on the left).
Athletes receive swim cap and chip in race packet (after briefing).
Line up on the beach in numerical order then make your way to our position between the buoys
“On Your Mark!” - Air horn starts race

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Transition 1

Used equipment must go in Transition Bin.

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Bike Course – 21k (Three laps)

Counterclockwise direction

Athletes stay on island until all laps complete, then return to Transition.

No official wheel pit

No Lap Out Rule - athletes will continue racing if lapped, make sure to stay on the right and allow others to pass on your left.

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Transition 2

Rack bike by seat, or both handlebars/both brake levers.
All equipment must be placed in Transition Bin even if not used.

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Run Course – 4.775k (Three laps)

Course follows clockwise direction
Aid Stations with water on the course
On last lap athletes cut to the Finish Line
Pacing is not allowed by coaches, teammates, friends

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Post-Race

Food and drink at Finish Line.
Awards ceremony at 10:00 am near Transition.
Top three athletes in each race will be recognized.

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Parking and Park Rules

Park North of San Diego Mission Bay Resort – street and lot parking available
No smoking/vaping
No glass bottles
No alcohol
No littering
No dogs after 9am. Please do not bring a dog. All dogs + owners will be removed at 9am sharp

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Good Luck!

See you tomorrow morning!