Kenzie Rose Youth Triathlon 2026

Description

The Kenzie Rose Youth Triathlon is a multisport race geared toward the youngest competitors, ages 5-15 - the future of the sport. This is a USAT-sanctioned race, and will be timed. PLEASE NOTE THAT AS A USA TRIATHLON EVENT, YOUR CHILD SHOULD BE IN THE CATEGORY FOR THEIR AGE AS OF 12/31/2026!

​The swim will be held at St. Andrews Swim & Tennis Club in Severna Park, MD.

​The bike and run courses will be held on the trails of Kinder Farm Park, directly adjacent to the swim. Please visit the Course Info page for detailed maps of all courses.

About Kenzie

When Mackenzie Rose Beach was born on July 10, 2015, no one knew that this tiny baby possessed the spirit of a warrior. She was a happy little girl, and brought joy to everyone around her, especially her parents, Kate and Andrew, and her big sister, Maddie. However, life as a typical baby came to a screeching halt when, on March 22, 2016, Mackenzie began vomiting and was taken to the Emergency Room, where a scan showed a buildup of fluid as a result of a mass at the base of her brain. Mackenzie underwent surgery to insert a drain for the excess fluid and remove a portion of the tumor for biopsy. The pathology results returned as a malignant cancer, known as Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor (ATRT). This is an extremely rare, aggressive cancer seen in only 3 children out of 1,000,000. Mackenzie endured many brain surgeries and flourished under a protocol by St. Jude, administered at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC, involving an experimental drug and chemotherapy. In July 2016, a scan showed the result everyone was praying for – no evidence of disease! As Mackenzie and her family prepared for the next step in the treatment process – traveling to Boston in October 2016 for 6 weeks of radiation – an MRI confirmed the worst possible news. Despite being cancer-free just four months prior, the tumor had returned and spread to other areas in her tiny body. Mackenzie fought with all she had, but she passed away in the arms of her sister, and surrounded by her mother and father, on December 18, 2016.

Kenzie Rose, as she was affectionately known, showed us all what is important in life – family, spending time together, enjoying our blessings, and not taking a single moment for granted. We all hope to make her proud by continuing to live as she would want us to live. To honor her memory, we are organizing this triathlon to raise awareness for childhood cancer and as a fundraiser to support The Mackenzie Rose Foundation. The Foundation was incorporated at the beginning of the year to provide essential items to families experiencing unexpected admissions to the pediatric oncology unit at Children’s National Medical Center. With your generosity, we will be able to fill and deliver care packages containing everyday essentials directly to the hospital. These “Kenzie Kits” will allow parents to spend more time with their sick child instead of worrying about picking up a toothbrush, notebook, or snack - all things that are often forgotten with an unexpected hospital admission. All proceeds from this event will fund the Foundation to help provide comfort and support to other families dealing with this devastating disease.