What has six legs, hair of silver and is 228 years old? The athletes forming the first-ever, “New Millennium Team” to compete in the upcoming “Eppie’s Great Race” — three seasoned triathletes whose ages total 228 years.

The New Millennium team was formed this year in honor of the 30th anniversary of Eppies Great Race, in recognition of those athletes over the age of 60 years who participate in the event. All three athletes — Runner Frank Cirill, age 80, Biker Dr. Irvin Faria, age 72, and Kayaker Bill Griffith, age 76, (see bio sheet attached) are proud to represent and honor physically fit and active seniors.

“We would like to show that older athletes can participate in an event such as this and perform well, whether it be recreational or competitive,” says Cirill. “Hopefully, we will encourage other people over age 60 to enter and compete in this event, too.”

The New Millennium team will compete along side Eppie Johnson’s own “Great Team” on Wednesday, July 16, at 8:00 a.m. The New Millennium Team will “set the time” on July 16 for all senior participants of the following “Eppie’s Great Race” (scheduled for July 19) to try to meet and beat. Anyone over 60 years competing on a Team or as an Iron Person that finishes Eppie’s Great Race under the time set by The New Millennium Team, will receive complimentary meal coupons from Brookfield's Restaurants. Coupons will be mailed after the race.

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“Many of our athletes have been involved in ‘The Great Race’ for more than 20 years,” stated Sacramento-area businessman and event founder Eppie Johnson. “It’s a community-wide event for people of all ages to participate in, and seniors are an integral part of it.”

The Great Race has been implemented each year as a fundraising event benefiting programs presented by the Sacramento County Therapeutic Recreation Services (SCTRS) that support mentally- and physically-challenged people. One hundred percent of the entry fees are donated to support SCTRS. To date, The Great Race has raised over $605,000 for SCTRS, and now represents over 20 percent of SCTRS’ total operating budget.

To receive more information regarding The New Millennium Team, The Great Team, The Great Race or to sign up as a participant, please check The Great Race web site: www.thegreatrace.org, or contact Sharon Gould at (916) 721-8710.