Submitted by Dr. Genadijus Sokolovas, Director of High Performance and Recruitment/ Development, USA Pentathlon
USA Pentathlon is looking to recruit high school and collegiate swimmers with a running background. The elite Junior/Senior level athlete recruitment program focuses on athletes who are in high school, college or post-grads and have fast swimming and running times with talent for other Pentathlon events. The ultimate goal of the elite level recruits is to compete at the international senior competitions, such as World Cups, World Championships, 2023-2027 Pan American games and 2024-2028 Olympic Games.
Benchmarks for the elite level recruits are based on their pentathlon points in swimming and running times as well as experience in other sports (see benchmarks below). Our goal is to recruit athletes who have enough swim+run points to qualify for USA Pentathlon training camps at the Olympic Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
Having a swimming background is important for the elite level recruits. It is hard to improve swimming at age 16+ and reach above mentioned times with little or no swimming background, whereas running can still be developed at later age.
Benchmarks for Elite Level Recruits
| Gender | Swim Time
(200 m) |
Run Time
(2 miles) |
Pentathlon Score in Swim and Run | Experience in Other Sports |
| Women | 2:15
280 points +/-1sec=2pts |
11:45
595 points +/-1sec=1pt |
875 points or higher | Fencing
Shooting Other sports (combat sports, games, gymnastics, etc) |
| Men | 2:05
300 points +/-1sec=2pts |
10:30
670 points +/-1sec=1pt |
970 points or higher | Fencing
Shooting Other sports (combat sports, games, gymnastics, etc) |
Training Camp for Elite Level Recruits
USA Pentathlon is hosting a training camp at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs from March 9th to 13th. To qualify for the camp, female athletes should score 875 points in swimming and running (see the benchmarks above). Two examples of score for females:
- Swimming 200 meters 2:15 (280 pentathlon points) and running 2 miles in 11:45 (595 pentathlon points). Total 875 points.
- Swimming 200 meters 2:05 (300 pentathlon points) and running 2 miles in 12:05 (575 pentathlon points). Total 875 points.
Any combination of swimming and running times (faster swimming and slower running or slower swimming and faster running) that scores 875 qualifies female athletes for a free training camp.
To qualify for a camp, male athletes should score 970 points in swimming and running (see the benchmarks above). Two examples of score for males:
- Swimming 200 meters 2:05 (300 pentathlon points) and running 2 miles in 10:30 (670 pentathlon points). Total 970 points.
- Swimming 200 meters 1:55 (320 pentathlon points) and running 2 miles in 10:50 (650 pentathlon points). Total 970 points.
Any combination of swimming and running times (faster swimming and slower running or slower swimming and faster running) that scores 970 qualifies male athletes for a free training camp.
Athletes who have good swimming and running scores are invited to contact Dr. Genadijus Sokolovas at [email protected]. Please also visit the USA Pentathlon website www.usapentathlon.org.