Tullis (’22) named to regional USA Triathlon High Performance Team
January 28, 2016 | 695 views
Sam Tullis ('22) (right) and brother William ('25) proudly display podium trophies from the USAT Youth-Junior National Championships in Ohio.
Sixth-grade student Sam Tullis has been recognized with a spot on the Southeast Junior Triathlon Team, a highly competitive and officially recognized USA Triathlon (USAT) High Performance Team. The USAT-sanctioned squad serves to identify, recruit, develop and prepare well-rounded athletes, ages 13-19, to compete in youth and junior Elite Cup races around the country. Athletes who excel in these races move on to represent Team USA in the International Triathlon Union’s (ITU) World Triathlon championship, the Confederación Americana de Triatlón (CAMTRI; formerly known as the Pan American Games), and the Junior Olympics.
“I wanted to be a member of the Southeast Junior team so I could achieve my dreams and fulfill my destiny. Long term, I dream of competing in the Olympics,” said Tullis. “Membership on this team will provide me with a physical and mental edge to do better.”
Darlington freshman Jane Tullis, his sister, joined the same team in 2014 and has since twice been named a USAT All-American.
Tullis completed his first triathlon as a four-year-old in the Sports Barn IronJunior race in Chattanooga, Tenn., and has competed in an excess of 100 races all over the country. He has amassed first-place medals at the IRONKIDS national championship and numerous regional races,and several second-place medals at the USAT national championships, among a variety of others.
At Darlington, the sixth-grader is on the middle school cross country, swimming and track teams. He is also a member of the Three Rivers Swim Club and the Frazier Cycling team (Suwanee, Ga.). Tullis already has a slew of different bike races, triathlons and other events planned throughout 2016, and hopes to inspire others his age and younger to get involved in the sport through events like R.A.C.E. Rome's Tri for the Kids.
“I want to see it continue to grow stronger and stronger, and more competitive,” said the athlete. “Triathlon is a very friendly, welcoming and supportive community.”
The Tiger’s first official events as a member of the Southeast Junior Triathlon Team include the draft-legal Clermont Challenge in Florida and a high performance development camp in Tennessee this spring.
Sam is the son of Jennifer and Josh Tullis (‘92) of Rome.
Sam Tullis ('22) (right) and brother William ('25) proudly display podium trophies from the USAT Youth-Junior National Championships in Ohio.
Tullis placed in first for the Elite 11-Year-Old Male group, and won third in the Senior Elite Male Overall division at the Tri for the Kids at Darlington in 2014.
Tullis placed in first for the Elite 11-Year-Old Male group, and won third in the Senior Elite Male Overall division at the Tri for the Kids at Darlington in 2014.
