FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:


CONTACT:
Carmen Monks
Team Psycho Triathlete
P: (617) 330-8969
E: carmen.monks@citi.com
W: http://www.teampsycho.com

Team Psycho Announces Elite Development Program plans for 2008

Team Member and EDP athlete Jarrod Shoemaker qualifies for starting line at Beijing Olympics, Regional triathlon team to sponsor other Olympic hopeful triathletes.

 

Boston, MA (January 25, 2008) – Having reached its first goal of helping a sponsored triathlete qualify for the Olympics by 2008, Team Psycho, the Boston-based elite triathlon team, today announced plans for the 5th year of the2008 Elite Development Program (EDP).

 

The EDP was founded in 2003 with the goal of creating a development program to assist athletes in attaining the highest level of success in short course (ITU) triathlon. After five seasons, the EDP will put one athlete on the US Olympic Triathlon Team (Jarrod Shoemaker, 2008).  This success follows the 2004 accomplishment of placing EDP athlete, Christoph O’Donnell on the start line of the 2004 US Olympic Trials...

 

The Program also sponsors two high profile long course athletes; Dede Griesbauer- 2006 Ironman UK Champion and top American Woman (7th overall) at the 2007 Ironman World Championships (Kona, HI); and Karen Smyers- 1995 Ironman World Champion and six-time US Pro National Champion.

 

 

2008 Plans

Team Psycho is currently searching for two or more exceptional individuals, with a sincere interest and the athletic ability to compete at the highest levels of ITU triathlon.  The program will provide a grant of $2,500-$5,000 annually to each athlete in the form of travel reimbursement to facilitate travel to races. 

 

To be eligible for the program, athletes must reside in New England and agree to focus on ITU races in an effort to earn U.S. Olympic Trials eligibility points.  Sponsored athletes will demonstrate superior race results in at least one of the three disciplines of triathlon.  Prospective athletes may come from a variety of sporting backgrounds, not only triathlon.  Both professional and promising age group athletes of all ages will be equally considered.   Finally, the selected athletes will demonstrate a passion for competition and camaraderie, strong goal orientation, and a positive demeanor and personality. 

 

In addition to competing in a minimum number of ITU races, sponsored athletes will compete in two designated New England races wearing the Team Psycho uniform, participate in Team Psycho-sponsored events throughout the course of the year and will submit written race reports to the Team Psycho membership.

 

Grants shall be awarded on annual basis, renewable at the discretion of the Board of Directors based on defined criteria. Ideally, an athlete shall be supported by the EDP for more than one year.

 

Sponsored athletes may also receive triathlon product depending on need and ability level (may include wetsuit, bicycle, and other training gear).

Athletes will receive support from the EDP Advisory Board, composed of elite triathletes (advice, informal coaching, etc.).

 

Interested athletes should submit the application available on the Team Psycho website (http://www.teampsycho.com/program).  Applications are due by March 31, 2008.  The Team Psycho EDP Advisory Board will notify selected athletes by April 15, 2008.

 

 

 

About Team Psycho

Team Psycho was founded in 1991 as an informal group of four triathlon training partners in suburban Boston.  Team Psycho has since become recognized as one of the most elite triathlon teams in the world, with an invitation-only membership of 95 triathletes.  Members include multiple age group and professional world champions.  To learn more about Team Psycho, visit http://www.teampsycho.com.

 

 

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