Triathletes compete in Nebraska's first XTERRA triathlon
Kaelly Simpson clipped through the finish line, the first woman through - a unique accomplishment, not only because this was her first off-road triathlon or because she bought her first mountain bike just five days ago.
Simpson broke her arm in an early summer cycling accident. As if competing weren't impressive enough, she also had to go and win the race.
"My arm's still getting its strength back," said the 23-year-old University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate student from Dallas, flexing the afflicted arm and then pointing at the other one. "It's almost as big as this arm."
Her secret to speedy recovery?
"I lifted two-pound weights all summer," she said. "I started with my coffee mug. I went to summer school and just lifted my mug every day in class. Over and over."
Simpson joined 150 other triathletes at Nebraska's first XTERRA triathlon. Competitors dove into Branched Oak Lake on Saturday morning, kicking off a 1,000-meter swim, a 21-kilometer mountain bike ride and an eight-kilometer trail run.
The first XTERRA B.O.L.T. was part of the XTERRA American Tour, which consists of 60 triathlons throughout the United States. Triathletes earn points to qualify for the nationals (in Ogden, Utah) and the world championship (Maui, Hawaii).
This was one of the last races before nationals, said Jared Carlson, XTERRA B.O.L.T. race director, so "there are a lot of people trying to pick up some last-minute points to qualify."
Lincolnite Kevin Burke, 45, was one such contender. He needed to move up one more spot in his regional ranking to qualify for nationals. And he did, by scoring a sixth-place finish overall on Saturday.
He's going to nationals. Maybe. He has to overcome one more obstacle.
"Now," he said, "all I have to do is talk my wife into letting me spend the money to go."
Reach Micah Mertes at 473-7395 or mmertes@journalstar.com.
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