PRESS RELEASE – Community First Guam Federal Credit Union announced a sponsorship of local professional triathlete, Charlie Epperson. Epperson is the first professional triathlete based out of Guam. As a sponsored athlete, Epperson will host summer clinics for youth interested in endurance sports.

“We are pleased about our partnership with Charlie Epperson.” said Gerard A. Cruz, President & CEO of Community First.“There are a number of great endurance athletes on island, but as the first Guam-based professional triathlete, Charlie is setting a new standard of achievement.  Charlie embodies the qualities that we value here, including the pursuit of excellence, dedication, service, and dependability. Charlie has also been an active contributor in our community through volunteering and his service in the Armed Services. We are excited to work with Charlie as he helps grow endurance sports on Guam, while supporting his athletic endeavors.”

Epperson joined the ranks as a professional triathlete in January 2014. In his first professional race, he placed 4th overall at the XTERRA Philippines Championship race against a competitive international field.

Charlie Epperson and Gerard A. Cruz, President & CEO of Community First. (courtesy photo)

He was the first Guam athlete finisher, and 6th overall, at the 2014 XTERRA Guam Championships in March. Epperson competed in the XTERRA Saipan Championships, where he finished 11^th overall in a strong field of professional triathletes that included a number of the world top-10 triathletes.  In February, Epperson finished 5^th overall, and first in his age division, in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Half Marathon clocking a personal best of 1:13:03, which featured over 70,000 runners.

This past weekend, Charlie added a victory at the 25th anniversary of the Tagaman Olympic distance triathlon held in Saipan. Epperson has worked with the Special Olympics and routinely volunteers with the Guam Running Club and Guam Triathlon Federation when not racing.

“The opportunity to partner with Community First on the development of youth athletics in Guam is very special,” said Epperson. “My desire was to work with an organization that has a history of supporting the running and triathlon community on Guam. Community First is a strong supporter of both the Guam Running Club and Guam Triathlon Federation and we have a mutual goal of mentoring and encouraging youth athletics on Guam.”

For 2014, Epperson will travel to the U.S. to race in the XTERRA Southeast Championships in Pelham, Alabama followed by a chance to race in the USA Triathlon Off-road Championships in Richmond, Virginia.  The following week, he will return to Guam to defend his Guam National Triathlon Championship title at this year’s race, which also serves as the Pacific Islands Triathlon & Cycling Championships.

Community First is the first local credit union established on Guam and has been serving the island since 1962. It is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration.