Groff became the first American athlete to earn a podium finish at the end of the International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships Series, also qualifying for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Huerta was the runner-up at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, finishing the year as the third ranked American in the ITU World Championship Series rankings.

Groff and Huerta were both awarded the Olympic/ITU Athlete of the Year accolade, while Mary Beth Ellis and Jordan Rapp took the non-Olympic/ITU Athlete of the Year awards.

Ellis won three ironman events and Rapp claimed victories at Ironman Canada and the ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships.

Rookies of the Year were Kelly Whitley and AJ Baucco – the former finished in the top seven of the ITU Pan American Cup on three occasions, while Baucco took four top 15 elite finishes during 2011.

The under-23 Athlete of the Year awards went to Kaitlin Shiver and Greg Billington.


Shiver (pictured) and Billington both came fourth at the ITU Under 23 World Championships in their respective gender groups, while Shiver was also runner up in the USA Triathlon Elite Race Series and Billington achieved two top six ITU Pan American Cup finishes.

"Two thousand and eleven was a year filled with many incredible triathlon performances," said Barrett Brandon, chair of the USA Triathlon Athlete Advisory Council (AAC) who made the awards.

"The AAC carefully examined the resumes and results of all the nominees, and is proud to honour these exceptional athletes.

"With the quality of nominees, the selections were no easy task.

"The AAC congratulates all the 2011 winners."

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