Lightning Warriors

06/05/2026

Race season is in full swing and there's still time to join ⚡

Lightning Warriors welcomes athletes ages 7-17 of all skill levels. Whether your kid is brand new to triathlon or chasing a national title, we have a place for them.

Sign up at lightningwarriors.org and become part of the team.

06/05/2026

The weather is warming and so is training! Our Sparks and Thunder are rolling strong!

06/04/2026

⚡ Lightning Warriors taking on the world.

While Long Island races were running, two more Warriors were on the line at the USA Triathlon Junior National Series in Wisconsin, and the Czarkowski Brothers were racing all the way over in Poland.

🇺🇸 Pleasant Prairie Draft Legal (WI), USAT Junior National Series
Matteo Somma, 5th Overall and 3rd Fastest American, with a confirmed spot at Youth and Junior Nationals
Brody Hoffman, building experience at the highest level of youth racing

🇵🇱 Poland
Bart Czarkowski
Florian Czarkowski

Three states, one country overseas, one team. This is what it means to race as a Lightning Warrior.

📸 Pleasant Prairie photos credit Mike Judge

06/04/2026

⚡ Congratulations to Katie Bailey on earning USA Triathlon All American 2025 in the 15U division.

This recognition puts Katie among the top youth triathletes in the country, the kind of result that’s built one practice, one drill, and one push at a time. Katie, you’ve shown what’s possible when you keep showing up and giving it your all.

Proud to call you a Lightning Warrior.

06/03/2026

For those looking for something for the kids to do at Friday 5pm, The YMCA in Patchogue is hosting a Youth Tri.

Below is the information for the indoor youth triathlon this year! There is no fee for this event! Here is the registration link.
https://forms.gle/FwBuEdNTbmT1fdXaA

The Patchogue Family YMCA will be hosting a youth Triathlon on June 5th from 5-7pm (race begins at 5pm). Please fill out the following information to register your athlete. The race will be indoors and done by time. Each athlete has 10 minutes of each swimming/biking/running to get as much distance covered as possible. There is no entry fee, but we suggest a $10 donation for each athlete. Non-YMCA members will have to fill out a guest waiver form on the day of the race.

All athletes must be accompanied by a lap counter. The Y will not be providing someone to count laps for swimming.

Ages 6-8 will be doing a duathlon composed of Swimming (pool) and Running (track)

Ages 9-14 will be doing a triathlon Swimming (pool) Biking (spin bike) and Running (treadmill)

The Patchogue Family YMCA will be hosting a youth Triathlon on June 5th from 5-7pm (race begins at 5pm). Please fill out the following information to register your athlete. The race will be indoors and done by time. Each athlete has 10 minutes of each swimming/biking/running to get as much distance....

06/03/2026

⚡ Lightning Warriors on the course at Whisper Tri in East Meadow.

A strong Sunday for the team across the Individual Course, Age Group, and Youth Race.
Individual Course

🥇 Myla Kelly, Gold Overall
🥈 Isabella Reda, Silver Overall

Age Group
🥇 Chloe Kelly, Gold
🥉 Juliet Dessey, Bronze
Nicole Orlowski, 6th in Age Group

Youth Race
🥉 Eliana Bacchus, Bronze Overall
Rilynn O'Callaghan, 14th
Lilyan Rushforth, 16th
Evelyn Scott, 17th
Grace Garcia, 18th
Emilie Worster, 19th
Lily Chester, 24th

Every finish line crossed is a step forward. Proud of you all.

06/03/2026

⚡ Congratulations to Abigail Erickson on earning USA Triathlon All American 2025 in the 15U division, for the second year in a row.

Earning All American once is huge. Doing it back to back is a testament to the consistency, focus, and grit Abigail brings to her training and racing every single day. This is what showing up looks like.

Keep raising the bar, Abigail.

06/02/2026

⚡ Lady Lightning Warriors SWEEP the Top Overall Podium at the Mighty Northfork.

What a Sunday in Southold. Three Warriors on the same podium, plus a stacked age group performance across the board.

🥇 Leah Nowakowski, Overall Gold
🥈 Emma Leary, Overall Silver
🥉 Katie Bailey, Overall Bronze
🥉 Esteban Quintaro, Overall Bronze (Men)

Age Group
🥇 Anthony King, Gold
🥇 Jack Bailey, Gold
🥇 Isa Canales Alvizuri, Gold
🥇 Sofia Worster, Gold
🥈 Ryan Gerbino, Silver
🥈 Robert Hawkins, Silver
🥈 Kate Gironda, Silver
🥉 Christopher Hawkins, Bronze

Proud of every one of you. This is what showing up looks like.

06/01/2026

⚡ Congratulations to Leah Nowakowski on earning USA Triathlon All American 2025 in the 15U division.

Being named an All American is more than a strong race day. It’s putting in the work week after week, in the pool, on the bike, and on the run, and showing up ready to give your best every single time. Leah, this honor reflects every early morning and every hard interval.

Proud to call you a Lightning Warrior.

05/31/2026

⚡ Six Lightning Warriors are headed to USA Triathlon Youth and Junior Nationals.

Congratulations to Bart Czarkwoski, Katie Bailey, Juliet Dessey, Myla Kelly, Chloe Kelly, and Leah Nowakowski for earning their qualifications at the East Coast Triathlon Festival in Richmond, VA, part of the USA Triathlon Junior National Series.

The series brings together the fastest youth athletes in the country, ages 13 to 19, across five Draft-Legal qualifying races. Earning a spot at Nationals means going head to head with the best, and these six Warriors have done exactly that.

Proud of every one of you. Now bring the same fire to Nationals.