Elk Grove Citizen News: 7/22/2007

Elk Grove's Stagg among winners of Eppie's race


Elk Grove's Josh Criswell, age 12 years, sprints towards the finish line of the Eppie's Great Race "Kaiser Permanente Kids Duathlon." Criswell competed in the July 21, 2007 Duathlon as an "Iron Kid," running 2.5 miles and then biking 6 miles on the American River Parkway.

- Vic Vicari of Sacramento and Vicki Ammon of Carmichael were the overall Ironman and Ironwoman winners of the 34th annual Eppie's Great Race. Elk Grove's youth athlete David Stagg (16 years) was the overall winner of the second annual Eppie's Great Race Kaiser Permanente Kids Duathlon, with Maggie Lloyd (17 years) of Sacramento finishing first of the youth females.

In addition to Stone and Vicari, 1,958 people competed in this year's Eppie's Great Race triathlon, which requires competitors to run, cycle and paddle along the American River Parkway through Rancho Cordova and Sacramento.

This year's competitor attendance increased by 344 people over the 2006 Great Race, (or an increase of entrants by 21%). The 2007 Eppie's Great Race featured more participants than the event has fielded in 21 years.

In fact, the 2007 Eppie's Great Race set a new entry record for the annual event - 627 entrants competed as "Iron" persons (one entrant completing all three legs of the triathlon) this year - the most "Iron" persons in Eppie's 34-year-history! Additionally, this year's Great Race hosted 451 teams competing within various divisions (more teams than in the last 12 years).

In only its second year, the Eppie's Great Race Kaiser Permanente Kids Duathlon drew more than 260 youths (ages 17 and under) to run 2.5 miles followed by a 6-mile bike ride, which began at 10 a.m., also on the American River Parkway.

The Eppie's Duathlon's attendance more than doubled over the 2006 event.

If counted together (all of Eppie's Great Race participants and Eppie's Kaiser Permanente Kids Duathlon participants), the 2007 Eppie's event set an all-time entry record for most participants in the annual race's 34-year history.

In addition to the entry and participation records set and broken at the 34th annual Eppie's Great Race:

"Vic Vicari took the 40+ Ironman Division -- and captured the overall fastest time in all of the Iron Divisions -- with a time of 1:43:28.

"Vicki Ammon captured the 50+ Year Ironwoman Division title and recorded the fastest Ironwoman time of 1:58:41.

"16-year-old David Stagg, registered in the Eppie's Kaiser Permanente Kids Duathlon "Male 16-17 Years" Division, finished the 2.5 mile run and 6 mile bike ride at 32:22. Sacramento's Lloyd (registered in the "Female 16-17 Years" Division) came in at 37:20.

"In the Eppie's Great Race Open Team Division, Runner Patrick Boivin of Chico, CA, Bicyclist Michael Brown of Sacramento, and Paddler Craig Tanner of Benicia (known as "Team California Canoe & Kayak") took first place with a time of 1:32:12.

"Winning the "Adaptive" Division with a time of 1:49:02 was Runner Chris Houde of Carmichael, Bicyclist Karen O Connell of Folsom, and Paddler Jon Houde of Carmichael.

"Capturing the "Junior's" Division title at a time of 2:05:23 was team "Glucose Fructose Extravaganza" made up of Runner Anthony Vella, Biker Evan Huffman and Paddler Meghan Veiga, all of Elk Grove.

"Bobby Carpenter of Rancho Cordova won the Ironman 50+ title at 1:55:25.

"The Ironwoman 40+ Division winner was Deborah Amrhein of San Jose at 2:12:23.

"Taking the Family Division title was Runner Matt Johnsrud and Biker/Paddler Gary Johnsrud crossing the finish line at 1:42:03.

"In the Co-Ed Team Division, team "Master Blasters" with Runner Jeff Adkins of Granite Bay, Bicyclist Dean Alleger of Sacramento and Paddler Pam Goodley of Sacramento, took first place with a time of 1:43:02.

""Sac PD Code 3," made up of Runner Vance Chandler of Roseville and, Biker Paul Curtis and Paddler Dan Nutley of Sacramento won the Fire/Police Division at a time of 1:47:38.

"Capturing the Corporate Division first place title was "Kaiser Team Thrive" with a time of 1:53:07 comprised of Runner Alan Anzai and Biker Thomas Meade both of Sacramento, and Biker Sue Lutz of Roseville.

"The Women's Team Division with a winning time of 1:50:10 was captured by team "California Canoe & Kayak" made up of Runner Kristi Ksenzulak of Antioch, Biker Katie Norton of Sacramento, and Paddler Elaine Baden of Richmond.

"The Women's Team 40+ winners were "Usual Suspect," Runner Theresa Collars of Sacramento, Bicyclist Kristina Zack and Paddler Robin Carpenter both of Rancho Cordova, with at time of 1:56:14.

"The Men's Team 40+ first place winners, made up of team "Current Adventures," Runner Mike Gottardi of Fair Oaks, Biker Eric Brown of Sacramento and Paddler John Weed of Lotus, came in at 1:41:12.

"First place in the Women's Team 50+ Division with at time of 1:57:05 was Runner Karen Kunz of Folsom, Biker Linda Elgart of Sacramento, and Nancy Burton of Sacramento.

"The Men's Team 50+ First Place winners were Runner Lou Nishimura, Biker Kevin Pedrotti and Paddler Ritch Hollingsworth all of Fair Oaks with a time of 1:47:05.

"Claiming first place in the Tandem Kayak Division with a time of 1:37:59 was Runner Rich Hanna of Sacramento, and Biker Steve Griffiths of Granite Bay and Paddlers Charlie Williard and Bob Hanna.

"Coming in with a time of 1:53:44, the winner of the Tandem Canoe Division was team "Biodegradables" comprised of Al Lomeli of Fresno, Biker Blair Robertson of Fair Oaks and Paddlers Phillip Lutz of Rancho Cordova and Bill Griffith both of Sacramento.

"In the Solo Canoe Division, Runner Michael Woodward, Biker Jed Carter and Paddler Jerry Montgomery took first place with a time of 1:52:27.

"The Inflatable Division winning time was 1:55:38 by Runner Brad Lael, Biker John Elgart and Paddler Dennis Scott, all of Sacramento

"In the category of Touring/Slalom, the first place team with a time of 1:50:18 included Runner Michael Farrell, Biker Todd Marshall and Paddler Kim Sprague all of Sacramento.

"In the "Sit-on-Top" Division, Runner Chad Worthen of Sacramento, Biker Greg Marshall of Fair Oaks, and Paddler Jeff Bushey of Sacramento, took first place with a time of 1:51:28.

Known as "The World's Oldest Triathlon," Eppie's Great Race was founded by regional businessman Eppie Johnson 34 years ago. Since that time, Eppie's Great Race has been implemented each year as a fundraising event benefiting programs presented by the Sacramento County Therapeutic Recreation Services (SCTRS), which provide programs for mentally- and physically-challenged people. One hundred percent of the Eppie's Great Race entry fees are donated to support SCTRS. To date, The Great Race has raised more than $800,000 for SCTRS, and now accounts for over 25 percent of the programs' overall operating budget.

The competitors that participated in the Eppie's Great Race triathlon began the event by running near the bridge at William Pond Park Recreation Area, proceeding west to the Guy West Bridge (behind CSUS), where the cycling portion of the Great Race begins. Bicyclists continue for 12.5 miles to the Sunrise Avenue footbridge, where the paddling segment begins. Participants paddle 6.35 miles downriver to the Goethe Park landing/finish area.

For further information regarding Eppie's Great Race, or for a complete list of all of the participants and their finish times, please check the Web site at www.thegreatrace.org.