Oak Mountain State Park brought three days of XTERRA championship action back to Pelham, Alabama from May 15-17, with World Cup results, North American titles, youth national champions, and open trail running. In its 18th time hosting XTERRA, Oak Mountain once again gave the weekend its familiar feel, with red clay singletrack, lakefront views, tall pines, and Southern hospitality carrying through three days of competition and community events.
From the open 5K trail run and kids’ activities to food, live music, a wildlife expo, and a relaxed event village, the weekend brought together athletes, families, volunteers, and friends in the way that keeps people returning to Shelby County year after year.
American Reed Legg and the UK’s Isla Hedley opened the weekend with Short Track wins on Friday before Maxim Chané of France and Marta Menditto of Italy capped off Full Distance victories on Sunday. Saturday turned the focus to the next generation, with the XTERRA Youth North American Championship held alongside the USA Triathlon Youth and Junior Cross National Championship. Americans Lucas Wright and Abigail Wales took the Junior titles, Dylan Thompson, and Elletta Aardema-Gagnon also earned Youth A wins, while Joren Aardema-Gagnon and Canada’s Dahlia Fillion took the Youth B honors.
Results | Highlights | World Cup Recap
North American Titles on Home Soil
Reed Legg and Amanda Felder gave the home crowd two of the strongest North American storylines of the weekend. Legg, who won outright at XTERRA Ruidoso in 2025 when athletes first tested the future 30th anniversary XTERRA World Championship venue, returned to familiar ground at Oak Mountain and delivered across both elite formats. He won Friday’s Short Track, then came back Sunday to finish second in the Full Distance Triathlon behind Maxim Chané of France, earning the men’s XTERRA North American Championship title.
Felder’s return carried its own weight. After winning outright at XTERRA Ruidoso in 2025 and taking victory at XTERRA Puerto Rico earlier this season, the American came back to Oak Mountain after missing last year’s championship and reclaimed the women’s XTERRA North American Championship title.
Their titles also stood alongside a full slate of age group champions from across the continent, with athletes in multiple divisions earning the right to be called XTERRA North American Champions.
Familiarity and Forward Momentum
Oak Mountain gave the weekend a full community feel and for Lucas Wright, who is juggling collegiate triathlon and draft-legal racing, returning to XTERRA felt like a homecoming.
“It’s beautiful here,” said Wright. “I love the off-road aspect. I love the community. It’s a lot less pressure, just a lot more fun, flowy, good vibes, good times. I think I race best when I’m enjoying myself and having fun.”
XTERRA extends its thanks to BUMP, the Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers, along with Shelby County, Oak Mountain State Park staff, and volunteers for helping bring the North American Championship back to Pelham. With Oak Mountain complete, the XTERRA World Tour continues toward Ruidoso, New Mexico, where the XTERRA World Championship will celebrate its 30th anniversary this October. More stories and highlights continue to capture memories from the weekend through XTERRA Americas Instagram.
