ITU-Cross-Triathlon-World-Championships-

 The ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships 2012 will be held in Pelham, Alabama, on May 19 in a partnership with the XTERRA Southeast Championship. 

The event will feature $20,000 USD in prize money for elite athletes, who will compete over a 1.5km swim, 30km mountain bike and 10km trail run. 

Under23, junior, age-group and paratriathlon races will also be contested in Pelham. Marisol Casado, ITU President  IOC Member said: "The triathlon and multisport family is extensive and far reaching and ITU is delighted to form a partnership with XTERRA for our 2012 ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships. We are confident the strong race organization and dynamic course will continue to push Cross Triathlon to a new level."

Dave Nicholas, Race Director, XTERRA Southeast Championships "TEAM unlimited is excited about bringing the ITU Cross Triathlon World Championship to the USA: "By combining the XTERRA series with ITU we are reaching new heights in cooperation between directors and the federations. Oak Mountain and Shelby County are the perfect place to host this event."

The course at Oak Mountain State Park in Shelby County, located in the southernmost part of the Appalachian Chain, is praised by competitors as being one of the most fun, fast, scenic and difficult on the XTERRA schedule. Pelham will mark the second ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships, following last year's successful event in Extremadura, Spain won by Canadian Melanie McQuaid and South Africa's Conrad Stoltz. Both McQuaid and Stoltz are also the defending champions in Pelham.

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