Ricky Dungan will compete in the USA Triathlon Youth Elite Championship Saturday at the Voice of America Park in West Chester.

Dungan, 14, has successfully competed in triathlons since he was 7 but this will be his first national/elite competition. He is coached by Brooks Doughtie and is a member of both the All Out Multisport Triathlon team based in Raleigh, N.C. and the Mason Manta Rays swim team in Warren County.

Dungan attends Wilmington High School and is the son of Brad and Faith Dungan of Wilmington.

The race is for youth ages 13-15 and is comprised of a 375-meter open water swim, a 10-kilometer bike and a 2.5-kilometer run. Facing tough competition, Dungan had to place 19th or better in one of four races across the country. His 17th place finish (out of 75 participants) in Pleasant Prairie, Wisc. earned him a spot in this national event.

“We are very proud of his hard work and dedication to this sport,” said his mother Faith. “He has been consistently training five to six days per week since October. Something not many 14 year olds do.”