Worth a tri

COEUR d'ALENE — Coeur d'Alene is in the running for another major triathlon milestone.

Representatives of USA Triathlon, the national governing body for the sport, said Coeur d'Alene is among three finalists to host the national championships during August in 2020 and 2021.

The event draws between 5,000 and 5,500 participants from all 50 states and more than 10 countries, along with 8,000 to 10,000 spectators with the athletes.

"We expect to make a decision in early 2019," Brian D'Amico, USA Triathlon's director of events, said on Wednesday before touring the possible course at Higgens Point on Lake Coeur d'Alene and U.S. 95.

By comparison, the Ironman triathlon events have brought more than 2,000 athletes to Coeur d'Alene the past several years.

D'Amico said USA Triathlon wants to bring the event back to the West. Sites are chosen based on several factors, including local support, hotel availability and safety of the course. He declined to say what two other cities are finalists to host the event. About a dozen cities expressed interest in hosting the event and five submitted bids.

Coeur d'Alene's bid was collaboration between the city, area triathlon groups, The Coeur d'Alene Resort, the chamber of commerce's Convention and Visitor Bureau, North Idaho Sports Commission and the Spokane Sports Commission. Local athletes showed their support for the event with a group swim at City Beach on Wednesday evening.

"Hosting the USA Triathlon events would be a boost to our local economy of tens of millions of dollars," Coeur d'Alene Mayor Steve Widmyer said. "It would be great for local businesses and an opportunity for us to show Coeur d'Alene hospitality to people from the country and the world."

Bill Reagan, president of The Coeur d'Alene Resort, agreed.

"Coeur d'Alene has been a community that always embraced athletic competition whether it be Ironman, Coeur d'Alene Marathon or Coeur d'Fondo," he said. "Bringing thousands of competitors and fans to our area the last week of August would really be a positive impact for the entire region."

Britt Bachtel-Browning, of the North Idaho Sports Commission, said the local bid has been an opportunity to partner with Spokane.

"Although the event would occur in Coeur d'Alene, both commissions have worked together using their expertise and local contacts," she said, adding that the bid was submitted about six months ago. "It would be a huge economic boost."

The USA event includes a Saturday Olympic-distance race that includes a 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bike ride and 10-kilometer run. The top 18 finishers in each age group qualify for the world championships. The race includes those 17 and older. There is no upper age limit.

Sunday's race, referred to as "sprint distance," is half of those distances. The top eight to 10 finishers of each age group, depending on the group, qualify for the world championships. Racers from 15 years and older compete.

The starts of the races are in waves according to age groups.

Some of the athletes compete in both races.

The races are in Cleveland this year and next. Previous host cities included Omaha, Milwaukee and Portland.

"We haven't been to the West Coast since 2001, so it's on our radar," D'Amico said.