Sac County Honors Eppie with Permanent Monument

VICARI, PELL AND ‘FIRST GLASS TEAM’
AMONG THE WINNERS OF THE
30TH ANNUAL ‘EPPIE’S GREAT RACE’

Vic Vicari of Sacramento, California and Vickie Pell of Carmichael, California won the Ironman and Ironwoman Divisions, respectively, of the 30th Annual Eppie’s Great Race on the morning of Saturday, July 19, 2003.

Fifty-year-old Pell claimed her eighth overall Eppie’s Great Race Ironwoman title with a time of 1:57:52 (also claiming the title of Ironwoman 50+). Vicari crossed the finish line as the Ironman winner with a time of 1:45:35 (also capturing the title of Ironman 40+). Vicari was the overall Eppie’s Great Race Ironman winner last year as well.

With Pell and Vicari, over 1,800 people competed in this year’s Eppie’s Great Race, which took place Saturday, July 19, on the American River Bike Trail through Rancho Cordova and Sacramento, California.

Known as “The World’s Oldest Triathlon,” Eppie’s Great Race was founded by regional businessman Eppie Johnson thirty years ago. Since that time, Eppie’s 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 $620,000 for SCTRS and now accounts for over 20 percent of the programs’ overall operating budget.

In commemoration of The Great Race’s 30th anniversary and in recognition of Eppie Johnson’s ongoing generosity and dedication to SCTRS, Sacramento County Supervisor Illa Collin unveiled a permanent monument near the starting line of The Great Race on the American River Bike Trail. The stone monument honors Johnson and highlights the features and benefits of the annual event.

Collin then acted as “Official Starter” for this year’s race.

In the Eppie’s Great Race Open Team Division, Runner Konrad Knutsen of Albany, Bicyclist Carlos Casillas of Davis, and Paddler Dan Crandell of Lotus, California claimed first place with a time of 1:36:50. Second-place finishers Runner Todd Rose of Oakland, Bicyclist Jeremy Burlingame of Sacramento and Paddler John Dixon of Moss Beach followed them at a time of 1:40:14. Third place, with a time of 1:44:04, was captured by team “Fast Track,” consisting of Runner Tom Getchell of Fair Oaks, Bicyclist Chris Barker of Sacramento and Paddler Erin McBride of Fair Oaks.

“First Glass Team,” made up of Runner Tyler Bacon of Rancho Murrieta, Bicyclist Terry Bacon of Orangevale, and Paddler Dirk Lang of Sacramento, won first place in the Adaptive Division with a time of 2:01:33. Runner Olmstead of Elk Grove,

Biker Kyle Smith of Sparks, Nevada, and Paddler Charles Albright of Reno, Nevada took second place in this Division.

Seth Poulson of Granite Bay captured the Ironman Open Division with a time of 1:53:04, followed by second place winner Darby Benson of Rancho Cordova at 1:57:15, and third placer winner Stephen Nagy of Sacramento at 1:59:28. The winner of the Ironman 50+ Division was Mike Ammon at 1:52:47.

The Ironwoman Open Division winner was Elizabeth Collins of Carnelton Bay at a time of 2:00:29. The second place Ironwoman Open Division title was claimed by Linda Casillas of Davis, followed by third place winner Denise Rowland of Orangevale. The Ironwoman 40+ Division first place winner was Jeanette Allred-Powless at a time of 2:04:24, followed by Cathie Simonsen of El Dorado Hills (2:07:28) and Sue Lutz (2:08:57).

The “Hanna Ohana,” team of Rich Hanna (who acted as both runner and biker) and Paddler Bob Hanna won first place in the Family Division with a time of 1:44:16. The Johnsrud Family of Folsom took second place with a time of 1:47:37. And the “Heiser Guys,” made up of Jeff Heiser of Dixon, Jody Heiser of Woodland and Deryl Heiser of Dixon came in third place with a time of 2:01:31.

In the Co-Ed Team Division, team “My Big Fat Greek Triathlon,” with Runner Jason Tackett of Sacramento, Bicyclist Walter Ford of Folsom and Paddler Pam Goodley of Sacramento, took first place with a time of 1:50:48. Team “Waddle, Straddle and Paddle,” claimed second place with a time of 1:53:43. Team “Youth, Youth, Age” captured third place, at a time of 1:57:02.

Capturing the Corporate Division first place title was “Team Intel,” with a time of 1:48:41. The second place winner in the Corporate Division was team “Garden Plus Company,” of Garden Plus Pest Control.

Winning Eppie’s very first Fire/Police Division with a time of 2:01:52 was Runner Josh Dobson of Rocklin, Biker Skyler Baldock of Sacramento and Paddler Daniel Nutley of Sacramento.

The Women’s Team Division winning time of 1:55:42 was captured by team “Foo Babes,” made up of Runner Jennifer Spoon of Carmichael, Biker Rae Ann Stiger of Folsom, and Paddler Maria Vierra of Carmichael.

The Women’s Team 40+ winners were “Eva’s Team,” of Runner Mary Coordt of Elk Grove, Bicyclist Lea Brooks of Rancho Cordova and Paddler Noelle Buer of Sacramento at a time of 1:54:50. Team “Usual Suspects” took second place with a time of 1:54:55.

Caitlin Chock of Roseville, Mario Wilson of Davis and Katie Briscoe of Sacramento, known collectively as team “Three’s Company,” claimed first place in the Junior Division with a time of 1:58:43.

“Team Current Adventures” members Frank Thomas of Roseville (runner), Chris Dominguez of Redondo Beach (biker) and John Weed of Lotus (paddler), took first place in the Men’s Team 40+ Division, crossing the finish line at 1:42:35.

Claiming first place in the Tandem Kayak Division with a time of 1:42:17 was team “Current Adventures,” made up of Runner Mark Barett of Sacramento, Biker Ed

Burns of Sacramento, Paddler Leo Lekas of Coloma and Tandem Paddler Paul Camozzi of Fair Oaks.

Coming in with a time of 1:48:08, the winners of the Tandem Canoe Division were Runner Mike Gottardi of Fair Oaks, Biker Tracy Muegge of Folsom, Paddler Dawn Swartwood of Long Beach and Tandem Paddler Chris Podgorski, also of Long Beach, California, known collectively as team “Mean Machine.”

In the Solo Canoe Division, Runner Doug Schmenk of Fair Oaks, Bicyclist Dan Huser of West Sacramento and Paddler Jerry Montgomery of Orangevale claimed first place with a time of 1:51:05.

In the category of Touring/Slalom, Runner Thom Pearman of Sacramento, Biker Philip Hankins of Carmichael and Paddler John Campbell of Sacramento took first place with a time of 1:50:15. Runner Jasper Peach of Auburn, Biker Phillip Peterson of Auburn and Paddler Ian Rice of Sacramento took second place at a time of 1:51:15. Team “Biodegradables” took third place in this category at a time of 1:54:24.

In the Sit on Top Division, Runner Leonard Sperandeu of Fair Oaks, Biker Jeff King of Folsom and Paddler (and also Eppie’s Great Race Co-Race Director) Charlie Willard, captured first place with a time of 1:51:43. “Team Mother Lode” at a time of 1:59:53, and team “Skeedaddle, Pedal and Paddle,” with a time of 2:02:53, followed them.

The competitors that participated in Eppie’s Great Race did the following:

Runners’ Distance – 5.82 miles:

Runners began on the American River Parkway bike trail near the bridge at William Pond Recreation Area. Runners then proceeded on the bike trail west for about two (2) miles. They left the bike trail and proceeded on the up-ramp to the levee near Rio Americano High School. They then proceeded west on the levee to the Watt Ave Bridge where they took the down-ramp off of the levee, proceeded under the bridge and took the up-ramp to the levee. They then continued west on the levee to the Guy West Bridge. At the Guy West Bridge, the runners took the down-ramp directly to the bike staging area, where they made their hand-off to the team cyclist or Ironpersons began the cycling portion.

Cyclists' Distance - 12.5 miles:

Cyclists’ started on the Guy West Bridge hand-off area. They proceeded east on the bike trail to Arden Bar Bridge, crossed and then proceeded through Goethe Park. They followed the bike trail east to the Sunrise Ave footbridge. They then got off the bike and ran to the bridge to make the hand-off to the paddler.

Paddlers' Distance - 6.35 miles:

Paddlers’ started at the Sunrise Ave. footbridge hand-off area. They then proceeded downriver to the Goethe Park landing area. All paddlers then exited their watercraft and crossed the finish line on foot - except the stern paddler in the Tandem Recreational Canoes.

For further information regarding The Great Race, or for a complete list of all of the participants and their finish times, please check the web site at: www.thegreatrace.com.

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