XTERRA GUAM SET FOR 9th YEAR

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PRESS RELEASE -Port Authority Beach will be the starting point for this year’s  XTERRA Guam Championship. The triathlon will be held on Saturday, March 23 and will feature more than 100 amateur and professional athletes representing nine countries. This marks the ninth year of the event, and the seventh year as part of the XTERRA America Tour – the world’s largest and most successful off-road triathlon series.“We’ve got a stellar international professional field from around the world,” said race director Eric Tydingco. “Returning to defend their titles is Ben Allen from Australia and Renata Bucher from Switzerland. We also have some first-timers with Dan Hugo and Bradley Weiss from South Africa and Rory Downie from Scotland.”

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

The course will begin with a 1.5-kilometer swim at Port Authority Beach in Piti, followed by a 31-meter mountain bike course up Nimitz Hill, atop Mt. Alutom then down to Mannengon Hills before returning to the transition point at Port Authority Beach. The race finishes with an 8.2-kilometer trail run where athletes navigate through jungle rivers and slippery waterfalls.

This is the second year XTERRA Guam has been a full-fledged ‘Championship’ event, meaning that the top finishers in each division will qualify to compete in the annual XTERRA World Championships held in Maui.

“Last year was just terrific,” said Tydingco. “Our small island qualified one of the largest international contingents represented at the World Championships last year. Guam was mentioned a lot at that event which is exactly what the goal is – creating a buzz about our island as an awesome sporting destination.”

Members of the media are invited to attend a press conference featuring the professional triathletes, as well as cancer survivor and inspirational athlete Jamie Whitmore on Wednesday, March 20 at 10 a.m at the Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort.

XTERRA Guam Championship is sponsored by the Guam Visitors Bureau, Take Care Asia Pacific, United Airlines, Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort, Guam Economic Development Authority, dck Pacific Guam, KUAM Sports, Michelob Ultra, Docomo Pacific, Bishman Continental Services, Veolia Water, Gatorade, 76/Circle K, Hornet Sports, Hafa Adai Signs, Detry Plumbing, the mayor’s offices of Ordot-Chalan Pago and Piti, the Port Authority of Guam, G4S Security, Thrifty Car Rental, and Guam Triathlon Federation. For more information, contact Eric Tydingco at 483-7773 or eric.tydingco@reklamorange.com.

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