THIS WEEK:  A pair of Nissan Xterra Points Series events are on schedule for this Sunday with the Torn Shirt Trail Triathlon in Brighton, Michigan and the Jamba Juice MountainMan Triathlon on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii.  The Torn Shirt is the first NXPS event in the North Central Region but more than a dozen competitors represented the region at the East Championship race on Sunday. For those off-road warriors it will be their second XTERRA in eight days.  Highlighting the field at Brighton is one of the most dominant age groupers in the series, Todd Scott of Royal Oak, MI. The reigning 35-39 USA champ has two titles already this year, the division championship at Richmond and the overall crown at the Memphis in May Tri earlier this month. The Mountain Man is of particular importance to all the athletes from the Aloha state, where XTERRA was born, as it serves as the Nissan Xterra World Championship Hawaii resident qualifier. Fifty-eight slots will be awarded to the top finishers in the race that starts at Waimea Falls Park and combines a 600-meter swim,             20-kilometer mountain bike, and 6-kilometer trail run.  Also on tap this weekend is the first ever XTERRA in the Czech Republic.
*****

LAST WEEK:  Nicolas Nico LeBrun ran away with the Nissan Xterra East Championship in Richmond, Virginia on Sunday while reigning XTERRA World Champion Anke Erlank captured the women's title.  The first of four NXCS events, the East Championship boasted an outstanding pro field and also highlighted hundreds of amateurs that traveled to Richmond from 32 states across the country.  Ben Travis (Palm Springs, CA) was the top amateur finisher (11th overall) in 2:20:13 and Anthony Johnson (Salt Lake City, UT) followed in 12th place. The pair out-performed nearly a dozen pros.  Virginia native John McGreevy (Arlington) placed third among amateur males (14th overall).  Long-time amateurs Romolo Forcino (Exton, PA) & Konrad Heller (Fredericksburg, VA) rounded out the top five. Todd Scott posted his third consecutive 35-39 East Championship victory and also recorded his best overall finish in Richmond (20th).  On the women's side, Rebecca Becky Bashton from Mechanicsville, VA won the amateur title (It was a big day all around for the Bashton clan as her sister, Emily, was the top female finisher in the XT while her mom, Cynthia, won her age group. Even Dad competed in the event).  Beverly Enslow, a 44-year-old from Peoria, Illinois, placed second among amateur women while the youngest gal in the field, 21-year-old Cara Coolbaugh from Culpeper, VA, finished third. In the team division, TEAM Palani posted a great time (2:15:00) but fell eight minutes short of LeBrun's winning mark. Thus, an all-star squad has still yet to win a championship event.  Repeat East Champions include Todd Scott (35-39), Steve Cole (45-49), Cara Coolbaugh (20-24), Kathy Coutinho (30-34), and Valerie Hardin (40-44). Several defending USA Champs also took home top honors in their age group including Matt Boobar (25-29), Barbara Peterson (45-49), and Joe Amato (55-59).
*****

Across the continent the Nissan Xterra Points Series was at Morgan Lake in La Grande, Oregon for the Solstice Triathlon that featured a 0.6-mile swim, 13-mile mountain bike, and 6-mile trail run.  Bill Raitter of Bend, Oregon won the overall title in 2:27:48, followed by Denny Dragen and Karl Umiker.  Reigning 45-49 USA Champion Rob Noyes placed 11th overall. In the women's division Kayleen Uibel finished first in approximately 2:45 (9th overall). Mary Ellen placed second and Alyssa Reischauer followed in third.  

*****

MAUI BOUND:  Based on their finish in the regional championship at Richmond, 29 age groupers earned the right to compete at the Nissan Xterra World Championship in Maui this October. M15-19: Jeremy Chandler. M20-24: Joshiah Middaugh. M25-29: Anthony Johnson, John McGreevy. M30-34: Ben Travis, Romolo Forcino, Konrad Heller. M35-39: Todd Scott, Brad Myers, Craig Tuttle. M40-44: Tom Lyons, Casey Fannin, Craig Propert. M45-49: Steve Cole, Reed Johnson. M50-54: Ron Magee. M55-59: Joe Amato. M60+: Kurt Truax. W 20-24: Rebecca Bashton. W 25-29: Nicole Logan, Courtney Page. W 30-34: Kathy Coutinho, Kim Ligman. W 35-39: Andrea Wagner. W 40-44: Beverly Enslow, Valerie Hardin. W 45-49: Barbara Peterson, Lynn Mannion. W50-54: Lois Marquart.

Note: Unofficial listing.