Evans Makes It Eight In A Row at XTERRA Lock 4 Blast
Monday, July 19, 2010
By Andrew Marsh: XTERRA Point Series Co-Manager
XTERRA returned to Gallatin, TN for the twelfth consecutive year this past Saturday anchoring a three part weekend of off-road fun at Lock 4 Park. The XTERRA Lock 4 Blast off-road triathlon kicked off the festivities Saturday morning. A 2.2 mile MTB Time Trial ripped through the woods that evening – while the annual Lock 4 Challenge XC MTB race capped the action Sunday morning.
The triathlon began with an 880 yard swim in Old Lake Hickory. Exiting the water first was XTERRA Pro Craig Evans in 0:10:34. Consistency is key for Craig – his time has wavered only two to nine seconds over the last four years! Next out was Billy Pirtle (32, Brentwood, TN) in 11:57. Third to exit was Eric Ford (33, Hendersonville) of Bikers Choice Team#2 a full two minutes down on Evans.
The solo ladies competition was much tighter with Lori Goldweber (Birmingham, AL) marking 0:14:34 followed by 2009 defending champion Julia Radmann (Smyrna, GA) 0:15:19, and Alexandra Akemann (Northville, MI) 30 seconds back in 0:15:49. The spectators cheered as the top three ladies departed T1 within sight of each other.
As they did last year the Bikers Choice teams represented the biggest threat to Evans’ Lock 4 dynasty. Biker Tanner Hurst rode BC Team #1 from 11th after the swim into second place. His 1:01:25 bike split was the day’s second quickest but couldn’t fill the 5 minute lead Evans had as he left T2. Evans’ 1:00:48 was his slowest split over the past six years, yet still out paced all others.
Blake Voges (26, Santa Claus, IN) moved past Pirtle on the second lap of the bike to take over the solo amateur lead. Dustin Greer (24, Chapmansboro, TN) followed Pirtle into T2 having passed 25 other athletes during the bike.
The XTERRA Lock 4 Blast is one of the most spectator friendly races on the XTERRA circuit. Unlike most triathlons – you can watch the race unfold from the comfort of a chair in the shade as both Bike and Run course are two loop affairs with athletes returning to the start/finish/party area after the first lap. The ladies bike was a great example – at the midway point the women’s front runner spot was still up for grabs as Goldweber, Radmann, and Akemann, raced past the crowd still within striking distance of one another. Somewhere on the second 6 mile loop Akemann literally put the pedal down posting the best ladies split of the day (1:20:38) and departed T2 a full two minutes up on Radmann and Goldweber who were literally seconds apart as they headed out onto the run.
Evans was on autopilot as he cruised past to start his second run lap. Little did he know that Charlie Jordan (18, Gallatin) BC Team#1 runner and Station Camp HS track and XC stand out was gunning for him. Jordan smoked the 4.5 mile single track in 28:40 outpacing Evans’ 30:18 but couldn’t close the gap. Craig Evans won the XTERRA Lock 4 Blast for the eighth consecutive time in 1:41:40. Bikers Choice Team #1 crossed in 1:45:17.
Blake Voges held his lead to take the solo amateur title – his second of the XTERRA season – in 1:52:01. Mark Rudder (46, Dunwoody, GA) ran a 31:11 to pass both Pirtle and Greer to take the runner up solo spot in 1:54:36. Billy Pirtle held on for 3rd (1:56:47).
Having been the bridesmaid at XTERRA Last Stand and Torn Shirt this year Alexandra Akemann was thrilled to take the women’s XTERRA Lock 4 Blast title in 2:12:25. Lori Goldweber couldn’t catch Akemann (2:14:32) but did out run Julia Radmann (2:18:44) to take second place.
Charlotte Mahan (Lenoir City, TN) remains unbeaten this season moving into a tie for first place with Libby Harrow (Vero Beach, FL) in the SE Women’s 60+ AG.
Athletes representing nine states enjoyed post race festivities that included ice cold watermelon, lunch from Subway, a Gatorade chugging contest, rock-paper-scissors championship, and other tomfoolery.
In addition to sponsoring all the weekend festivities the Bikers Choice bike shop was well represented on the medals podium. Both BC teams won their division – Mens and CoEd - in the XTERRA relay competition. Tanner Hurst had the legs to dominate the Time Trail on Saturday. He scorched the 2.2 mile single track in 08:40. BC rider Matt Schupp took second. On Sunday Hurst was looking to avenge his teams’ second place to Craig Evans XTERRA win when he took XC Cat1 top honors out pacing Evans – also riding for BC – by over a minute and a half.
Race Director David Hardin, the Gallatin Parks Department and crew continue to offer top shelf XTERRA and MTB fun at Lock 4 Park. Thanks for a great action packed weekend.