ZELIENOPLE — The Get Fit Families Youth National Triathlon Team will travel to West Chester, Ohio, to compete in the USA Triathlon Youth & Junior National Championships this weekend.

The championships, hosted by USA Triathlon will take place Saturday and Sunday, with more than 2,500 athletes expected to compete.

“We’re just excited to head out to Ohio,” said Get Fit Families founder and coach Joella Baker.

The team, composed of 21 children ranging from 7 to 14 years old, prepared for the championships by competing Saturday in the Zelienople Youth Triathlon at the community park alongside others who wish to run in the race. Baker and parks director Alecia Flood hosted the race.

The triathlon was previously hosted by Cranberry YMCA for more than 25 years. However this year the YMCA canceled the event, leaving Baker and Flood to keep it alive.

“We just didn’t want to see it go away,” Baker said.

As for the national team, Baker said the local triathlon prepared them for the national championship. For this year, the overall distance was increased to better accommodate the team.

Flood said the national team represents the local area well. The team consists of athletes from Zelienople, Harmony, Cranberry Township, Mars and Sewickley.

Flood said she is proud of the team members’ hard work and their representation of the area and happy the park is being utilized for their training.

“We love it and we’re happy to do it,” she said. “It brings awareness to the sport.”

The Get Fit Families team most recently received a bronze and silver medal in the national triathlon. Hannah Fetterolf from Sewickley won both of those in her division and will return to competition this year at 9 years old.

Other team members have placed in the top 10 in past years.

Baker herself has competed in numerous marathons and triathlons in the past in cities like Pittsburgh and Boston.

In 2014, she was featured on the cover of the Summer 2014 “USA Triathlon Magazine.”

“These kids are starting to swim times almost as fast as school swim team kids,” Baker said of the team. “They have a good advantage now.”

Baker said the team stands a good chance of being more successful this year. She hopes more members finish in the top 10.