New Millennium Team Biographies
New Millennium Team Biographies
Frank Cirill—Runner (Age 80 Years)
Frank has been a race participant or a member of the “Eppie’s Great Race” Steering Committee for 28 of the Great Race’s 30-year existence. Twenty years ago, while serving as Assistant Race Director, he designed the Eppie’s Great Racecourse that is currently in use today. He now serves as Race Director Emeritus on the Great Race Steering Committee.
After competing in two Eppie’s Great Races as a member of a team, he switched to compete as an “Ironman.” He was the first person to participate in the “Ironman Division -- Ages 60 Years and Above.” Frank is now 80 years old.
From 1980 to 1996, he participated in the “Masters Division” within regional, national and international Nordic ski races.
Frank, on a daily basis, partakes in a fitness regimen consisting of stretching, lightweights and running.
Bill Griffith—Kayaker (Age 76 Years)
Bill Griffith has been retired from the California Department of Fish & Game for 13 years — after serving with the Department for 40 years as a Wildlife Biologist. He is active in local environmental and recreational programs. For example, he has served on the Board of Directors of the “Save the American River Association” for 20 years, as well as serving as a four-year appointee on the Sacramento County Recreation and Park Commission.
This 30th Annual Eppie’s Great Race will be Griffith’s 28th consecutive Great Race as a kayak paddler. His teams have collected several second and third place awards and two first place awards from the race over the years.
Griffith is now a canoe and kayak instructor for both the American Red Cross and California Canoe and Kayak.
Dr. Irvin Faria—Biker (Age 72 Years)
California State University, Sacramento (CSUS) Professor Emeritus Doctor Irvin Faria will be competing in the 30th Annual Eppie’s Great Race as the biker for the ‘New Millennium Team.’
Faria first competed in Eppie’s Great Race in 1976. He is currently a member of the Sacramento’s local Buffalo Chips Running Club, and regularly competes in 5-K and 10-K races.
Sports and athletic competitions continue to play a major role in his life. His passion for athletics began in high school as a gymnast, football player and sprinter on the track team. Throughout college he competed in both gymnastics and wrestling.
Later in life, cycling, running and cross–country skiing became his major competitive endeavors. He and his wife now ride tandem together.
In 1992, he won the “US National Championship in 20-K Free Style Cross Country Racing” in Anchorage, Alaska. And in 1993, he was a member of the second place “World Masters Relay Team” in Norway. In 1995, Faria was a member of the first place “USA Masters Relay Team” at Sun Valley.
Faria is Professor Emeritus at the California State University, Sacramento, where he held the position of Professor for the Department of Health a