HAMMOND, Ind., May 14, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 2015 U.S. Armed Forces Triathlon Championship will be held at Leon's Triathlon in Hammond, Ind., on June 7, 2015. The race will be broadcast on Comcast SportsNet, part of the NBC Sports Group and its affiliates, around the country.
Leon Wolek, the race founder, began the triathlon in the 1980s for top amateurs around the United States. The race has grown steadily since its beginning, and now hosts more than 500 athletes from throughout the world each year. Because of Wolek's dedication to honoring the U.S. military and veterans during the race, Leon's Triathlon has been dubbed "America's Race." Wolek is thrilled to host the men and women of the Armed Forces.
"We are extremely humble, grateful and honored to serve the fine women and men of the Armed Forces. Without their services, all the sports we enjoy every day would not be possible," said Wolek.
For the past several years, the Armed Forces Triathlon Championship has been held on local military bases. Race organizers look forward to bringing their race to Hammond, and believe the partnership with Leon's Triathlon will be a win-win proposition.
"The 2015 Armed Forces Triathlon Championship will be held for the first time away from one of our military installations," said Steven Dinote, U.S. Armed Forces Sports Secretariat. "We look forward working with Leon's Triathlon this year and are excited to host our championship in Hammond, Indiana."
The Armed Forces will have eight male and five female service members from each of the five branches of the military competing in the race. The head-to-head competition includes athletes from the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.
Winners of the Armed Forces triathlon in Hammond will then represent the United States Armed Forces at the Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM) Military World Games in South Korea October 2-11, 2015. The CISM Military World Games will feature more than 6,500 military athletes from more than 110 nations.
The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority is a proud supporter of Leon's Triathlon and its vision to set the standard for a military-themed national triathlon serving those who have served for us. For more information on the U.S. Armed Forces Triathlon Championship, visit www.armedforcessports.com. Information will also be posted at www.leonstriathlon.com as it becomes available. The full 2014 race broadcast can also be viewed on the Leon's Triathlon website.