Registration is open.
Likely to sell out. 736 finished the Sprint Triathlon in 2026, and this year's cap is 800.
We earn a small commission when you register through this link, at no cost to you. Details
Add to calendar: Apple or Outlook · Google
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | Sprint TriathlonOpen water swim | Sep 18, 20276:50 AM | $150 | 800 |
| Relay | Sprint TriathlonRelay or teamOpen water swim | Sep 18, 20276:50 AM | $300 | 75 |
| Aquabike | AquabikeOpen water swim | Sep 18, 20277:00 AM | $120 | 50 |
| Youth Triathlon | Kids TriathlonOpen water swim | Sep 18, 20277:30 AM | $120 | 100 |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Around September 18, the water at NOAA's Wrightsville Beach station typically runs about 80°F (76 to 82°F across 2016 to 2025). The water usually runs above 78°F at this date: wetsuits are allowed but make you ineligible for age-group awards.
Measured by the NOAA tide station nearest the race's listed location, about 1.2 km away; open beaches and sheltered bays nearby can differ by a few degrees. Wetsuit cutoffs are USA Triathlon age-group rules. The race's own water temperature reading on race morning decides.
Online registration closes Sep 17, 2027, unless the race fills first.
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:55 AM, and the Individual starts at 6:50 AM. The start sits about 0 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Wrightsville Beach Town Hall, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
National lists computed from results, entry fees, course maps and water temperatures; they refresh through the day.
Aggregated from official results for YMCA Wrightsville Beach Sprint Triathlon. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
At the 2026 Individual, the fastest tenth finished in 1:25:40 or better, the top quarter in 1:32:36, and half the field in 1:41:18; the last tenth came in after 2:08:08.
At the 2026 Youth Triathlon, the fastest tenth finished in 36:31 or better, the top quarter in 43:15, and half the field in 49:09; the last tenth came in after 1:01:28.
At the 2026 Relay, the fastest tenth finished in 1:26:40 or better, the top quarter in 1:32:55, and half the field in 1:43:06; the last tenth came in after 1:57:30.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 1:31:48 | 1:23:13 |
| 20-29 | 1:22:59 | 1:14:46 |
| 30-39 | 1:26:48 | 1:14:44 |
| 40-49 | 1:26:04 | 1:17:41 |
| 50-59 | 1:32:10 | 1:14:03 |
| 60-69 | 1:33:58 | 1:29:12 |
| 70+ | 2:22:35 | 1:45:07 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
Where a finish time would have placed in 2026.
At the 2026 Individual, the bike decided the most: the middle of the field lost about 5:32 to the top quarter there, 39% of the gap across the three legs.
Compared with a typical sprint triathlon in North Carolina, the median swim here was 10:53 slower, the bike 5:29 faster and the run 1:14 slower (swim lengths differ from race to race).
| Leg | Top 10% | Top 25% | Median | Slowest 25% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swim | 19:43 | 22:07 | 24:42 | 28:10+ |
| T1 | 4:13 | 5:02 | 5:56 | 7:19+ |
| Bike | 34:52 | 37:23 | 40:29 | 45:15+ |
| T2 | 1:07 | 1:23 | 1:51 | 2:26+ |
| Run | 22:20 | 24:46 | 27:50 | 31:56+ |
Each column ranks finishers on that leg alone, from the race's published results. T1 and T2 are transitions.
At the 2026 Youth Triathlon, the swim decided the most: the middle of the field lost about 3:03 to the top quarter there, 46% of the gap across the three legs.
| Leg | Top 10% | Top 25% | Median | Slowest 25% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swim | 9:21 | 11:06 | 14:07 | 16:14+ |
| Bike | 16:19 | 17:31 | 18:45 | 20:13+ |
| T2 | 0:57 | 1:04 | 1:27 | 2:17+ |
| Run | 11:27 | 13:21 | 15:10 | 17:14+ |
Each column ranks finishers on that leg alone, from the race's published results. T1 and T2 are transitions.
Up 10 percent since 2025.
All events combined, from official results.
From 2025 to 2026, the field went from 670 to 736 finishers, and the median time rose from 1:40:04 to 1:41:18.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 736 (+10%) | 1:41:18 | under 1:25:40 | 1:07:32 |
| 2025 | 670 | 1:40:04 | under 1:24:17 | 1:08:20 |
From each year's official results for the Sprint Triathlon; virtual options are left out.
Slower than most North Carolina sprint triathlons
The fastest quarter of the 2026 sprint triathlon field finished under 1:32:36, against 1:26:47 in a typical North Carolina sprint triathlon, so times here run 7 percent slower.
Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.
Around September 18 the day usually runs from 68°F at dawn to 81°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 21% of days. Cold snaps dip to 63°F and hot years reach 86°F.
Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
What the organizers of YMCA Wrightsville Beach Sprint Triathlon cover on their registration page, in brief.
Schedule and packet pickup
Presented by the Greater Wilmington Business Journal. Team up with your colleagues to represent your company on race day! We are challenging Wilmington’s local businesses to take home the “Corporate Cup” and bragging rights for the year!…
Course
* The course is flat (not a surprise) as the race is at the coast. * The one loop course takes participants over the Wrightsville Beach drawbridge and onto the mainland. * Participants need to be very careful crossing the metal grading on…
Awards
Top 3 athletes will be awarded in the each of the following categories: Advanced (M & F). Age Groups (M & F):20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85 & Over. Clydesdales (Males 220 Lbs…
Rules and FAQ
USAT Sanctioned: This event is a USA Triathlon sanctioned event. Cut-Off Time: All participants must complete the race in under 2 hours, 30 minutes from the start of their swim. Event officials reserve the right to pull a participant off…
Rules and FAQ
In the event of inclement weather the following procedures will be followed: The event will be postponed in hopes the inclement weather will pass. If the inclement weather does not pass in time to complete the event safely in the original…
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
1200m Swim - 11 mile Bike - 5K Run
Founded in 1979, as the Pepsi Triathlon, the YMCA Wrightsville Beach Sprint Triathlon is a favorite event among locals and triathletes near and far. This event creates a lot of excitement and enthusiasm within the race community because of its scenic location in beautiful Wrightsville Beach. The course is flat and the distances are short, making it a great first event for new triathletes, and a great time trial for more experienced racers.
In recent years, the YMCA has added a Youth Triathlon event in addition to the traditional Sprint Triathlon, increasing the participation in younger athletes.