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By Patrick Lujan

Some of Guam’s finest athletes will be heading out to Maui, Hawaii this week to compete in Sunday’s XTERRA World Championship, the stage of nearly 800 of the world’s best pro and amateur triathletes.

It is the largest delegation Guam will be sending to the World event, thanks to the XTERRA Guam race on March 10 that was the first Championship qualifier. In the 1.5K swim, 31K mountain bike and 8.2K trail run event, Guam qualified 30 athletes for this weekend’s big stage.

“This is remarkable,” Guam Race Director Eric Tydingco said about the big delegation. “The most before was around 2004 when we had about six people from Guam. And Guam, will have the added distinction of being having the second largest international contingent (behind Brazil) at this event.”

Some of the Guam delegation to the upcoming XTERRA World Championship break during a recent training session. (courtesy photo)

Registered to race are:

Josh Tyquiengco and Ayshalynn Perez embrace after completing their first XTERRA Guam race as solo competitors. (photo by JR Manuel)

Rodney Bordallo
Boe Brodhum
Mark Cruz*
Benjamin Dillon
Charlie Epperson
Jaime Fahy
Seth Hatke
Theron Holloway#
Erin Johnson
Camren Kane
Isaburo Kawasaki
Quentin Koch#
Scott Lacey#
Sarah Laughlin
Peter Lombard*
Gabriel Lombard
Julie Mages
Jonathan Martin#
Cameron O’Neal*
Karly O’Neal*
Ayshalynn Perez
Tobias Perez-Theissen*
Jeffrey Phillips

Michelle Santos
Paul Sauget#
Dave Torre#
Mark Walters
Tressie Word

* indicates previous World Championship experience.

# indicates at-large entrees.

Renata Bucher (Switzerland) wades through the final stretch of the ‘run’ course on her way to her second XTERRA Guam women’s title in March, 2012. She also won in 2010. (photo by Takamitsu Usami)

According to Tydingco, The XTERRA World Championships were held in the south coast of Maui from 1996 until 2010. In 2011, the course moved to the north coast of Maui (Kapalua), so this is the second year in the new location. “The old south course was downright dangerous on the descents, with sharp lava rock and kiawe thorns throughout. Even the pros were not immune to ‘race-ending’ crashes. The new course, although not as treacherous, is a true test of fitness with grueling climbs.”

The Guam event is licensed to be a World qualifier for three years. The next XTERRA Guam is set for March 23, 2013.

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