The most promising young triathletes in the United States battled for the USA Triathlon Junior Elite and Youth Elite Championships Saturday for the third straight year at Voice of America Park in West Chester, Ohio.

Brent Demarest of Charleston, South Carolina beat Seth Rider of Germantown, Tennessee by 38 seconds to win the Junior Elite Championship, with Darr Smith of Atlanta Georgia five seconds back of Rider in 3rd place.

“These past two races I’ve felt like I had something to prove,” said demarest. “I had to make my mark this year in my last year (as a junior elite).”

Tamara Gorman of Rapid City, South Dakota edged A very Evenson of Colorado Springs, Colorado 58:55 to 59:08 to take the Junior Elite Women title with Taylor Knibb of Washington, D.C. taking 3rd, 20 seconds back of Evenson.

“I’m really hoping to repeat at Edmonton (at the ITU Junior Elite World Championship),” said Gorman. “But I know that takes a lot and that I’m going to have to be on my ‘A’ game to do it.”

Even Parres of Dardenne Prairie, Missouri finished the Youth Elite Men championship in 30:09, topping runner-up Ricardo Reyes of Riverview, Florida by 5 seconds and 3rd place finisher Julienne Harrison of Marietta, Georgia by 8 seconds.

“Last year I didn’t think I’d be even close to this good,” said Parres. “My coaches brought me to the level that I’m at now and I can’t thank them enough for that.”

Page Lester of Washington, D.C., won the Youth Elite Women contest in a time of 31:36, 14 seconds ahead of runner-up Audrey Ernst of South Elgin, Illinois by 14 seconds. Third place finisher Devon Kroeker of Colorado Springs, Colorado finished 3rd,
34 seconds behind Lester.

“It’s really cool to win a national title because this is my first year doing triathlon,” Lester said. “I’ve always been a swimmer, but I didn’t really expect to do well.”

2014 USA Triathlon Junior and Youth National Championships Results
Junior Elites: 750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run
Youth Elites: 375m swim, 10k bike, 2.5k run

Junior Elite Women

1. Tamara Gorman (Rapid City, S.D.), 58:55
2. Avery Evenson (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 59:08
3. Taylor Knibb (Washington, D.C.), 59:28

Junior Elite Men

1. Brent Demarest (Charleston, S.C.), 54:56
2. Seth Rider (Germantown, Tenn.), 55:34
3. Darr Smith (Atlanta, Ga.), 55:39

Youth Elite Women

1. Page Lester (Washington, D.C.), 31:36
2. Audrey Ernst (South Elgin, Ill.), 31:50
3. Devon Kroeker (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 32:10

Youth Elite Men

1. Evan Parres (Dardenne Prairie, Mo.), 30:09
2. Ricardo Reyes (Riverview, Fla.), 30:14
3. Julienne Harrison (Marrietta, Ga.), 30:17