XTERRA EX2 Post Race Report

By Jen Trapp, XTERRA Rep

Photos by Will Ramos Photography – www.waramos.com – Check them out!

With 266 XTERRA athletes toeing the start line at Rocky Gap State Park on Sunday, this was the second largest XTERRA Points Race ever!  You add in the duathletes and the teams, and this was a huge day!

The temperature on race morning was nice and cool – but we knew it would get hotter as the day wore on – thankfully the cloud coverage and winds kept it pretty nice this year.  With all the athletes checked in and waiting in the two corrals, it was time to go.  For this two lap swim, athletes had to swim out and around the peninsula that transition was on, run across it a few hundred yards, and then do it all over.  First out with over a minute lead was Derek Oskutis (20, Annapolis, MD).  He completed the .75 miles swim in 18:08 – oh yeah, he’s a Navy guy, that explains it!  In 19:55, 19:56, and 19:57 – the next 3 guys to enter transition were Eric Sorenson (38, Falls Church VA), Damian Walsh (32, Arlington VA) and Dan Laroque (32, Midlothian VA).  It was a close one so far!

For the women, it was Lelia Glass (18, Potomac MD) who was first out in 19:13 – that would put her 2nd overall!  Next up were Alicia Markey (28, Newark DE) and Andrea Fuchs (23, Bethesda, MD) in 21:06 and 21:12.  Nice going!

Next up – the 14 miles of rocky, hilly, fun single track.  Two loops again and you had to come in through transition in between loops and get your split time.  Best time of the day went to Roger Masse (48, Bethesda MD) in 1:02:57.  Then it was XTERRA Pro and our favorite Speedo wearing, Pink mohwaked athlete around – Will Kelsay with a 1:03:27.  Third fastest was Erik Scott (37, State College PA) who had a 1:04:07.  It was Kate Lucas (39, Richmond VA) who shined on the mountain bike with a 1:22:56 – smokin’!  She was followed by Denelle Grant (32, Charlottesville VA) and Kristina Adams (34, Glenwood MD) who posted splits of 1:24:01 and 1:26:07.

The 5 mile run took you on much of the same trail that the bike was on – but once you got to the top of the monster climb – you cut down and had some gnarly rock climbing, boulder hopping, and ankle twisting fun!  Erik Scott and Will Kelsay were smoking with 35:06 and 35:07 splits.  Damian Walsh was close behind with a 35:32.   Kristina Adams blew the ladies away with a run split of 45:45 – wow!  Sara Hanson (20, Blacksburg VA) and Kimberly Williams (27, Lancaster PA)  were sprinting through it as well with a 49:03 and 49:14 split.

As far as who took the tape?  It was Will Kelsay taking the overall individual title in 2:01:39 – he was beat by a relay team though!  First amateur and 2nd overall was Eric Sorenson in 2:03:28 and rounding out the men’s top three was Erik Scott in 2:03:40 – it was a sprint to the finish!

Kate Lucas smoked the course and took the Ladies title in 2:38:27 – and she was 44th overall.  Congrats!  Denelle Grant was second in 2:40:51 and the final podium spot went to 2:42:01.  Nice job to all!

Thanks to Rocky Gap State Park for such a gorgeous venue – this place is incredible!  Thanks also to Jim Harman and his whole EX2 Adventures crew for putting on an amazing show!  To all the athletes, spectators, family, and friends – thanks and we’ll see ya’ at the next one!

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