EPC Xterra Team Celebrates Successful Season

Over the weekend the EPC Xterra Team celebrated it's first successful season in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. The Xterra National Championship event is the final stop on the U.S. Xterra Tour. The night before the event an awards banquet is held to recognize the efforts of all the athletes and the regional champions from across the country.

The EPC Xterra Team represented the Mountain Region with 4 of our 6 amateur athletes on stage as Regional Champions in their age-groups: Cary Kinross-Wright, Julie Bruckman, Luke Jay and Ed Oliver. Nice work guys and gals of EPC! 

Regional Champs

The next morning follows with the race for the National Championship. This race is for all of the qualified Xterra athletes from around the country to have one shot at the title. Heading into the race the EPC Xterra team had big hopes as many of our athletes were considered favorites in their age-groups as well as overall amateurs. 

Luke Jay was able to overcome the cold conditions and tough competition to walk away with the 25-29 National Championship title. His solid effort put him as the 3rd place overall amateur for the day. 

Sara Tarkington had a solid day finishing 10th in the pro division only a few minutes back from the race leaders. 

Unfortunately, the rest of the team struggled a bit in the cold water, technical bike course and twisty run of the championship course. Julie Bruckman was taken out by a nasty fall that left her knee swollen to the size of an orange. Ed Oliver suffered two flat tires in the rocky singletrack that left him with a disappointing 7th place. Rickey Tolliver, although putting up a stellar 3:06 time for his first season of triathlon racing, petered out a bit on the run and settled for 5th in his age-group. Both Cary Kinross-Wright and Cody Waite experienced "off" days and struggled with different portions of the course. Cary finished 3rd in her age-group, while Cody battled for a 13th place in the pro mens field after a disappointing swim. 

Rickey Tolliver, bringing it home in his rookie seaon

Luke Jay, 2008 Xterra National Champion

What a great first season the EPC Xterra Team had this year. We nearly dominated the Mountain Region and won a National Title to boot. We'll gladly take it!