Meet the SoCal Series Champs

XTERRA SoCal Trail Run season, which began last October with the XTERRA Point Mugu Trail Run, recently ended with the XTERRA Malibu Creek Trail Runs in May. In addition to the usual post-race celebration at XTERRA Malibu Creek, the XTERRA SoCal Trail Run Regional Champs were announced and awarded a complimentary entry into the XTERRA Trail Run National Championship in Ogden, Utah on September 16.

As always in the beloved XTERRA SoCal races, there was a mix of good friends and new acquaintances, familiar running partners and newcomers, and a wide variety of accents as the trails enticed runners from all over Southern California and beyond.

In the 15-19 age group, Natasha Preece won for the second year in a row, while Tina Weissauer (40-44), Diane Campbell (60-64), Elliott Bijlsma, and Anthony Fagundes each won for the third time. Runner Hans Unger (75-79) won his sixth title and John Williams (80+) claimed his eighth. June Muller (65-69) and Dianne Rindt (70-74) each won their second regional championship as well.

In addition to winning his division, Bijlsma was the overall winner at XTERRA Malibu Creek. Fagundes won at XTERRA Boney Mountain, XTERRA Crystal Cove, and the XTERRA Topanga Turkey Trot. Currently out with a knee injury, Fagundes is looking forward to getting back out on the trails.

“I already signed up for the XTERRA Trail Run National Championship,” said Fagundes, with his usual smile. “So you know I’ll be back out there soon.”

At XTERRA Point Mugu, Fagundes broke his own course record, and at XTERRA Boney Mountain, he broke the existing course record by a minute and a half. In 2016, Fagundes was 7th at the XTERRA Trail Run National Championship and he was fifth last year.

"My goals going forward are to continue to move up in the finishing placement at XTERRA Nationals. I love running that course in Utah and I'm also looking forward to running the XTERRA Trail Run World Championship in Hawaii in December."

Fagundes has also been a big supporter of XTERRA Regional Champ, Elliott Bijlsma.

"I can't express how proud and happy I am to watch Elliott's progress this season," said Fagundes. "From meeting him three years ago to seeing him place third overall at XTERRA Crystal Cove and then winning XTERRA Malibu Creek has been great - and Malibu Creek is not an easy course. I really hope he's able to make it to XTERRA Nationals this year. Everyone I meet at the XTERRA races has become like a mini family to me. I always look forward to seeing everyone at each race, whether I'm running or not."

XTERRA Ambassador Tina Weissauer came out to the race with her entire family. Her husband Daniel finished eighth overall and her two children ran in the kids’ run.

“I am such a huge fan of XTERRA,” said Weissauer. “I’m so excited to be age group champion and to be headed to the XTERRA National Championship in September."

“I love the people who come out to do our trail runs,” said Brennan Lindner, XTERRA SoCal Series race director. “They are all warriors on the dirt. It was a privilege to award some of the XTERRA Regional Champs, who have been with us for years and who make trail running such a great sport. ”

Lindner is already looking forward to the 2019 season, which will kick off on September 9, 2018 with the XTERRA Laguna Beach Trail Runs.

Each year, XTERRA awards age group champs for each XTERRA Trail Run region. In order to be eligible for the XTERRA Regional Champion title for an age group, athletes must compete in at least two trail runs within a given series. Athletes can earn points for each region they run in their region.

Here's a look at all of the 2018 XTERRA SoCal Trail Run Series Champions.