The 34th annual Dragonfly Triathlon will offer Olympic and Sprint distance races for the first time in the event’s history.

The event will take place Sept. 22 at Sardis Lake in Sardis.

Racers can choose to participate in the new Olympic distance 1,500-meter swim, 40K bike, and 10K run, or a shorter Sprint distance course 750-meter swim, 20K bike, and 5K run.

This is the second year that the races are USA Triathlon Mississippi State Championship qualifying events for the 2024 USAT Triathlon Olympic and Sprint National Championships.

Also new to the event this year are Aquabike competitions in both races eliminating the run portion of the race. The Olympic Aquabike is a 1.5K swim with a 40K bike. The Sprint Aquabike is a 750-meter swim with a 20K bike. Cash awards of $150 each will be presented to the fastest cyclists in each race competition category: men, women, relay male, and relay female.

Presented by BBSC Endurance Sports LLC with the support of local race directors Wyndell Roberton and Pam Routh, the event begins at 8 a.m. on the sandy white beach at Cypress Point on the Lower Lake at Sardis Lake Reservoir.

The swim is always cool and refreshing with a sandy beach entrance and exit. The bike course winds through farmland and is flat. The run is on pavement for two miles and a shady woodland trail. This event offers participants and their families an opportunity to swim, picnic, boat and explore numerous public day-use areas on the lake at John W. Kyle State Park and nearby Holly Springs National Forest.

Registration for the Sprint race is $120 per person, Sprint Relay is $55 per person and Sprint Aquabike is $100 per person. Registration for the Olympic race is $140 per person, the Olympic Relay is $70 per person and the Olympic Aquabike is $120 per person.

Register at BBSCendurance.com.

Proceeds will benefit a local youth mountain bike team.

All participants receive a custom-designed T-shirt and finishers will be presented with a custom-designed medal. Overall winners in female and male age groups in each category will receive awards at a pizza and watermelon post-race party featuring Prairie Farms Ice Cream at the race site.

For information contact Pam Routh at 901-550-2114 or pamrunsraces@gmail.com.