Mustang Showdown Race Info

General Info

Age Group/Open:

Open and Age Group athletes will begin their race check-in with packet pickup at 1:00 PM or the day before at GH sports, access to transition depends on timing of Collegiate Women's Final completion. Mandatory Athlete meeting will occur at 1:30 PM. The race begins at 2:00 PM with an in water swim start. Each athelte will have half of a pool lane to themselves and must stay on their side of the lane. This format ensures a smooth flow into the bike and run while maintaining fairness across the field. Each participant will complete the full super sprint course of a 300m swim, 5k bike, and 2k run. Unlike the collegiate race, the Open category is non-drafting, meaning athletes must maintain the required draft zones on the bike. This makes the event especially welcoming for new triathletes while still providing an exciting and competitive experience for experienced racers.

All Open and Age Group competitors are timed individually, and final results will be based on total time from start to finish. Age group awards will be presented following the race at 2:30 PM.

ATTENTION OPEN RACERS: WHEN ARRIVING TO THE EVENT, BE CAREFUL AND FOLLOW ALL VOLUNTEER DIRECTIONS FOR PARKING AS COLLEGIATE RACERS WILL BE ON COURSE AT HIGH SPEEDS.

Collegiate:

Disclaimer: Round times, number of rounds, and qualifications for the next round are tentative and subject to change depending on actual participant count on race day. A final schedule will be released the day before the event. But teams should plan on being at Nipomo High School from around 6am - 2:30pm.

All Collegiate athletes will race at least 2 times during the day.

The following information assumes a full race of 120 athletes (60 per gender)

Round 1

The Men’s Round 1 consists of three separate heats at 7:00 AM, 7:30 AM, and 8:00 AM. The Women’s Round 1 takes place at 8:30 AM, 9:00 AM, and 9:30 AM.  In each heat, the top 12 finishers automatically qualify for the semi-finals. The bottom finishers in each heat will enter the consolation races, unless they are one of the four fastest athletes who did not qualify, referred to as lucky losers, who will still advance to the semi-finals.

The Men’s semi-finals are held at 10:00 AM and 10:30 AM. The Men’s consolation race takes place at 11:00 AM, and it includes the finishers from each Men’s Round 1 race that did not make the semi-finals. The Women’s semi-finals are held at 11:30 AM and 12:00 PM. The Women’s consolation race takes place at 12:30 PM, and it includes the finishers from each Women’s Round 1 race that did not make the semi-finals. 

The Men’s final takes place at 1:00 PM, consisting of the top 8 finishers from each Men’s semi-final, plus the next 4 fastest racers across both semi final heats. 

The Women’s final takes place at 1:30 PM, consisting of the top 8 finishers from each Women’s semi-final, plus the next 4 fastest racers across both semi final heats. 

To promote recovery equity, efforts are made to ensure that athletes advancing to the next stage have as similar rest periods as possible between their heats. This helps balance recovery time, minimizing any disadvantage caused by racing earlier or later in the initial rounds. Although perfect alignment isn't always achievable, the goal is to provide fair and equitable recovery opportunities to enhance performance quality for all participants. 

2026 Schedule

This is just a tentative schedule and is subject to change prior to race day depending on number of participants.

Refund Policy

Refund Eligibility:

• Full refunds will be granted if a written request is received at least 30 days prior to the race day.

• Partial refunds (50%) will be provided for requests made 15-29 days prior to the race.

• No refunds will be issued for requests made within 14 days of the event.

Transfer of Entry:

• Participants may transfer their entry to another person up to 7 days before the race, provided the request is submitted in writing. A transfer fee of $10 will apply.

No-Show Policy:

• No refunds or transfers will be issued for participants who fail to attend the event without prior notice.