Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Team USA Earns Five Titles at ITU Cross Triathlon Worlds

EXTREMADURA, Spain - Team USA enjoyed a successful trip to the first-ever ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships on Saturday, April 30, as U.S. athletes captured five world titles and eight total medals in the off-road multisport event.

Topping their respective age group podiums in the 1-kilometer swim, 20-kilometer mountain bike and 6-kilometer cross-country run event were: Kristin Jo Markum (25-29, Tumwater, Wash.), Kathy Hudson (45-49, Highland Village, Texas), Beverly Enslow (50-54, Metamora, Ill.), Brent Peacock (50-54, Jackson, Wyo.) and Katherine Frank (60-64, Santa Cruz, Calif.).

Markum posted the top overall performance by a female age-grouper in the field with a time of 2 hours, 1 minute, 40 seconds. Markum was fourth after the swim but grabbed a lead she would not relinquish with a 1:13:23 bike split.

Hudson captured the 45-49 title by more than eight minutes and was one of just six women to break the 2-hour, 10-minute mark with a time of 2:06:24. Enslow won the 50-54 crown in 2:10:08, while Frank logged a time of 3:01:13 to take the 60-64 age group.

Peacock was more than a minute faster than his closest competitor in the men's 50-54 age group with a time of 1:55:16.

Additionally, Peter Lilley (65-69, Charlotte, N.C.) earned silver, while bronze went to Sue Anne Clark (35-39, Bryn Mawr, Pa.) and Annette MacNiven (50-54, Wainscott, N.Y.).

The Team USA squad in Spain was comprised of 53 athletes ranging in age from 23 to 68 and hailing from all across the United States. The athletes qualified for Team USA, which is comprised of amateur athletes that represent the U.S. at every ITU World Championships, at four different off-road triathlon events in 2010.

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