Series Category Definitions

Open/Advanced
Anyone may participate as an Open/Advanced athlete. However, this designation is normally reserved for those who place very high in the overall rankings and/ or their respective age groups. This category does not have any age limitations.  You can be over 40 and still choose to race in the regular Open/Advanced category. At most events the Open/Advanced athletes will begin in the first wave to allow them to race head to head. Keep in mind the USAT rules if you are trying to gain national rankings by USAT. All Set Up Events series rules state you must declare yourself as an Open/Advanced Athlete at the first series event of the year in you wish to participate as an Open/Advanced Athlete. Not all Set Up events offer this category. Please check the individual series/ event pages to see if your event offers this division.

Masters Open/Advanced
A Masters Open/Advanced athlete is anyone who meets the standards of an Open/Advanced Athlete AND is 40 years of age or older as of December 31 of the current race year. Not all Set Up events offer this category. Please check the individual series/ event pages to see if your event offers this division.

Age Group
The age group athlete makes up the vast majority of all athletes at an event. If you do not assign yourself to any of the categories listed here you will race as an age grouper. If there is any doubt at to where you should classify yourself this is likely the category for you.

Clydesdale
A clydesdale athlete is a male who weighs more than 220 pounds. Spot checks are often carried out at packet pick up to verify the weight of those choosing to race in this division.

Masters Clydesdale
A masters clydesdale is someone who meets the standards of a clydesdale AND is 40 years of age or older as of December 31 of the current race year. Not all Set Up events offer this category. Please check the individual series/ event pages to see if your event offers this division.

Athena
An athena is any female athlete weighing greater than 165 pounds. Women meeting this criteria can chose to race as an athena or not.

Novice
A novice athlete normally is someone who is participating in their first year of triathlon. While you may participate as a novice as long as you wish, we do suggest moving out of the novice division as you become more comfortable with the sport of triathlon. Novices normally begin in smaller swim start waves toward the end to insure comfort with the open water start. Novices are lined up along with all other participants at pool swims, as the seeding is based on the swim time provided during registration. Novices do not receive series scoring points or awards at any of the Set Up Events Triathlon Series. Not all Set Up events offer this category. Please check the individual series/ event pages to see if your event offers this division.

Physically Challenged / ParaTriathlete
A physically challenged athlete is an athlete racing with a physical impairment.  For instance, those without the use of any limb or combination of limbs (leg, arm) or a visual impairment. Athletes may race with or without the use of prosthetics. Not all Set Up events offer this category. Please check the individual series/ event pages to see if your event offers this division.

Collegiate
A collegiate athlete is any athlete enrolled full time in an accredited college or univeristy as of the date of the event. School id is required at packet pick up to verify enrollment. Not all Set Up events offer this category. Please check the individual series/ event pages to see if your event offers this division.

Military
A military athlete who is any active duty or retired military. Normally events offering this division have separate categories for Active Duty and Retired, but in the event they do not this category is open to both active and retired military.

Male Relay Team
A male relay team is made up of two or three team members who are all male. Many races simply have one relay division and do not break teams down by gender. In this case all teams would race under a single Relay Team division.

Female Relay Team
A female relay team is made up of two or three team members who are all female. Many races simply have one relay division and do not break teams down by gender. In this case all teams would race under a single Relay Team division.

Co-Ed or Mixed Relay Team
A co ed (mixed) relay team is made up of two or three team members who are of different genders. Many races simply have one relay division and do not break teams down by gender. In this case all teams would race under a single Relay Team division.

Aquabike Male or Female
The aquabike category is for those that wish to only do the swim and bike portion of the event.  Your time will end at the completion of the bike leg of the race.  Not all Set Up events offer this category. Please check the individual series/ event pages to see if your event offers this division.

Aquathlon Male or Female
The aquathlon category is for those that wish to only do the swim and run portion of the event.   The normal format will be swim - run with the aquathlon typically going off in the final swim wave and heading straight to the run. Not all Set Up events offer this category. Please check the individual series/ event pages to see if your event offers this division.

Duathlon Male or Female
The duathlon category or event is for those that wish to not swim and instead only bike and run. The normal format will be run - bike - run with the first run being short in distance then the remaining bike and run would be the same as the triathlon distances. Not all Set Up events offer this category. Please check the individual series/ event pages to see if your event offers this division.

Open/Advanced Category Rules

• Any athlete may elect tor race in the Open/Advanced category.  However, the Open/Advanced Category (and Masters Open/Advanced) is meant for athletes who will contend for the overall win or will place in the top 1-10% of the field.
• Open/Advanced (Masters Open/Advanced) athletes will always start in the first wave / front of the line (Open Water / Pool Swim Events).

Age Group / Category Qualification Rules

• To be eligible for series awards, participants must enter and compete in a minimum of 4 events as an individual in any single event category that is scored within the series (Novice, Aquathlon, Duathlon, Relays or other non scored categories do not count).
• Participants who compete in more than 4 races will use their top 4 scores for computing points.
• The minimum age allowed for participating in the SCTS is 10 years of age for most events. Exceptions will be made based on parent/guardian request.
• An athlete must remain in the same category throughout the entire season. The only exceptions are novices moving into a qualifying group, clydesdales/athenas dropping weight, and those racing aquabike due to an injury.
• If an athlete changes categories for any reason mid-season, the events he/ she competed in before the change will count toward the qualification rewards, but will NOT count toward series qualification award points.
• If an athlete participates as a relay team member at any event he/she may race other events as an individual. You are not locked into the relay team category.
• Participants who declare to compete in the Open/Advanced or Masters Open/Advanced category must compete in that category for the entire year. Athletes may not move from Open/Advanced or Masters Open/Advanced to age group or any weight classification once they have raced any SCTS event as an Open/Advanced or Masters Open/Advanced athlete for the current calendar year.
• Participants who declare to compete in their Age Group category must compete in that category for the entire year. Athletes may not move from age group to Open/Advanced, Masters Open/Advanced, or any weight classification once they have raced any SCTS event as an age group athlete for the current calendar year.
• Participants who declare to compete in the Clydesdale and Athena categories must race in those categories the entire year unless he/ she falls below the 220 lb/ 165 lb mark. In this event these athletes will be placed into their respective age groups and lose any points received from racing in their weight classification.
• If an athlete goes above the 220 lb/ 165 lb mark he/ she may NOT move into the Clydesdale/ Athena division if he/ she has already competed in a different event category.
• The Novice category will not be scored in the SCTS standings.
• Novices will not receive credit for having done an event against the 5 event minimum to qualify for series awards or the event minimums to get event qualifying rewards.
• The Aquabike category will be scored in the SCTS standings.
• The Aquathlon category will not be scored in the SCTS standings.
• Aquathlon or Duathlon participants will not receive credit for having done an event against the 4 event minimum to qualify for series awards or the event minimums to get event qualifying rewards.
• Participants may only compete for series awards in one single category. 

USA Triathlon Sanctioning

• All SCTS events are USA Triathlon sanctioned.
• Click HERE to read all of USAT's Competitive Rules Open (Elite) Rules
   

USA Triathlon Age Up Rule

• All Set Up Events USAT Sanctioned Triathlons will set participant ages as of December 31st. For series scoring purposes, and individual event scoring purposes they will be considered that age for the entire year, regardless of when their birthday is.
• Example - John Doe is 39 with a birth date of July 4th. Because John will turn 40 before 12/31, he will be considered 40 for all USAT sanctioned events during the year.
  John's first event of the year is Andy's Race in April. John will race Andy's Race and all other USAT sanctioned events during the year in the 40 - 44 age division.

USA Triathlon Membership

• Click HERE to check your USAT membership or print your card. All SCTS events will require you to present your current USAT membership card or either pay the one-day USAT permit fee ($15).

Wetsuit Rules

All Set Up Events Series will follow the wetsuit guidelines set forth by USA Triathlon. Those guidelines state:

• USAT rules state that competitors may wear wetsuits if the water temperature is 78 degrees or lower.
• USAT rules also state that if the water temperature is between 78.1 - 83.9 degrees, competitors may wear wetsuits but will not be eligible for awards.
• If the water temperature is 84 degrees or above, participants may not wear wetsuits.

For Set Up Event Series scoring purposes:

• If the water temperature is 78 degrees or lower everyone will receive series scoring points.
• If the water temperature is between 78.1 - 83.9 degrees and you elect to wear a wetsuit, you will officially receive "0" points for that event. The event will count towards the minimum number of required events to become eligible for awards.
• If the water temperature is 84 degrees or higher, no one may wear wetsuits and everyone will receive series scoring points.

Set Up Events has wetsuit requirements and recommendations for temperatures below a certain number for safety reasons.

• If the water temperature is below 65 degree a wetsuit is recommended for any competitor. Any type of wetsuit may be worn, (John or Full).
• If the water temperature is below 58 degree a FULL wetsuit will be mandatory for any competitor. Any person who is not wearing a FULL wetsuit will not be allowed to compete.
• Expected water temperatures will be posted leading up to the event.