Edsall, Cuypers Win XTERRA First Coast

XTERRA First Coast Post Race Story
By Gary Harris, XTERRA Rep

XTERRA in Jacksonville Beach Florida! That's right I said Jacksonville BEACH Florida. And if you like warm Atlantic swims, technical single track and a cool beach breeze than XTERRA First Coast is right up your alley. Where else are there blue and red arrows posted next to signs that read "Please Do NOT to feed the ALLIGATORS or WILD CATS!"?

2008 marks the 7th annual running of XTERRA First Coast, an event that has flourished with its awesome venue and race staff. When I asked Co-Race Director Brent Hamrick why XTERRA First Coast has been such a hit he put it plain and simple "Athletes from all over the world come to our little race, they come because we have a killer venue and a no nonsense event!" And come they do; Colorado, California, New Jersey, even Bogotá Columbia

This year would be no different, despite forecasted heavy rain and "rumored" shark attacks the starting line-up swelled just under 200. Yellow & black swim caps line the blue skied Atlantic beach filling the air with an amazing paradox of calm ocean waves and pre-race tension.

In order to follow the Atlantic current, swim direction and buoy location are determined  early race morning with this year's swim starting to the south and headed north with the beach too your left. First out of the water was Birmingham Alabama's Omar Fraser cruising up the coast in a mere 14:52 "he was so far in front it looked like he started in his own wave" remarked a volunteer as he finished the swim. From there, the athletes went up and off the beach, hit the board walk and head down to transition. Hot on Omar's tail was XTERRA First Coast defending Champion Casey Fannin, Sean Crichton and John Close only 1 minute behind followed by a flood of eager XTERRAists.

Hanna Park's bike trail system is a blast, when you're here for the race grab your bike and hold on tight for three laps of some of the fastest, flowing, fun and technical single track in Florida. "It has rained here every day for the last week, the trails are packed down hard and the course is really fast" race director Chris Cusimano explained at the pre race meeting "since we have so much sand in the dirt this course drains really well." Packed down and fast defiantly describe the course with 6 of the top 10 finishers breaking 1:10 and local 3rd place finisher Sean Crichton flying through at a blazing 1:01:13.

The run continued the fun with a 5K filled with downed palm trees, bridges and a baby armadillo that we named Carl. Crichton out of transition 1st, Fraser 2nd and Colorado's Drew Edsall hot on the chase in third. HOT he was, Edsall ran a remarkable 18:09 5K to take the win with Omar only 31 seconds behind.

The ladies had a brilliant day with west coast Florida resident May-Li Cuypers taking 1st with a 2:02:49 to make Georgia's Angie Childre settle for 2nd.and Jacksonville's Char Fosmoe in 3rd.

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