WACO, Texas — Kathryn Lockwood (Irvine, Calif.) and Kyle Grieser (Marble Falls, Texas) earned overall titles on Saturday at the USA Triathlon Off-Road National Championships, which were held as part of the Cameron Park Off-Road Triathlon in Waco, Texas, for the second consecutive year.

The race was shifted from a triathlon (swim-bike-run) to a duathlon (run-bike-run) after debris and heavy water flow in the Brazos River caused by recent flooding led to a cancellation of the swim portion in the interest of athlete safety. Athletes instead covered a 2.72-kilometer trail run, 32-kilometer mountain bike and 10-kilometer trail run, battling hot conditions and plenty of hills in Cameron Park.

Lockwood crossed the finish line in 3 hours, 7 minutes, 22 seconds to claim the women’s overall victory, earning the women’s 40-44 age group title in the process. She shared the overall podium with runner-up Jess White (Easley, S.C.), who finished in 3:17:41, and Nicole Perez (Waco, Texas), who took third in 3:26:24. White was crowned the women’s 35-39 national champion, while Perez took second to Lockwood in the 40-44 age group.

“It was hot — really hot,” Lockwood said. “Two weeks ago, I realized it was going to be really hot in Waco, so I started sitting in a sauna for 30 minutes every day. I think it helped. It was a fun bike course. I used to be an elite on-road duathlete 20 years ago, so when I heard there was no swim, I was like, ‘I wonder if I remember how to do this!’”

On the men’s side, Grieser broke the tape with a time of 2:30:04, earning the overall and the men’s 35-39 national titles. Mike Hermanson (Louisville, Ky.) was second across the line in 2:34:49, earning the men’s 30-34 title. Rounding out the overall podium was William Allen (Farmingdale, N.Y.) in 2:37:28. Allen also earned an age-group win in the men’s 25-29 division.

“The course was great, the conditions were great,” Grieser said. “I like to ride hills, so this being a hilly course, I think that helps me out a lot. You can’t beat Cameron Park. This is a great venue, and the riding out here is awesome.”

Five athletes successfully defended their age-group national titles from 2018, including White, Lucia Colbert (Cordova, Tenn., F60-64), Mike Carter (Austin, Texas, M55-59), Cliff Millemann (Davis, Calif., M60-64) and Charlie Redmond (Tenafly, Pa., M70-74). Colbert and Millemann each earned three-peats, having also won their respective age groups at the 2017 event. 

In total, twenty athletes captured age-group off-road national titles on Saturday. The top 18 finishers in each age group, rolling down to 30th after applying the age-up rule, qualified to represent Team USA in the 2020 ITU Off-Road Triathlon National Championships. The top 20 athletes per age group in the USA Triathlon off-road triathlon annual rankings as of Dec. 31, 2019, will also qualify for the World Championships.

The ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships will be held as part of the ITU Multisport World Championships, set for Sept. 4-13 in Almere, Netherlands. For more information about Team USA, comprised of the nation’s top age-group athletes who represent the U.S. at ITU World Championship events, visit usatriathlon.org/teamusa.

USA Triathlon Off-Road National Championships
2.72k trail run, 32k mountain bike, 10k trail run
*Complete results will be posted to racerevolutions.com once available.

Overall Female: Kathryn Lockwood (Irvine, Calif.), 3:07:22
Overall Male: Kyle Grieser (Marble Falls, Texas), 2:30:04
M17-19: Will Stacey (Nashville, Tenn.), 2:43:48
M20-24: Oliver Porter (Asheville, N.C.), 4:27:08
M25-29: William Allen (Farmingdale, N.Y.), 2:37:28
F30-34: Christine Ricketts (Belton, Texas), 3:29:55
M30-34: Mike Hermanson (Louisville, Ky.), 2:34:49
F35-39: Jess White (Easley, S.C.), 3:17:41
M35-39: Kyle Grieser (Marble Falls, Texas), 2:30:04
F40-44: Kathryn Lockwood (Irvine, Calif.), 3:07:22
M40-44: Blake Marrou (New Braunfels, Texas), 2:48:06
F45-49: Alissa Magrum (Lakeway, Texas), 3:43:05
M45-49: Fernando Lopez (Houston, Texas), 2:52:02
F50-54: Patricia Smaldone (Portland, Ore.), 3:51:55
M50-54: Stan Lambros (Florissant, Colo.), 2:54:59
F55-59: Heidi Dohse (Hailey, Idaho), 5:13:51
M55-59: Mike Carter (Austin, Texas), 2:58:28
F60-64: Lucia Colbert (Cordova, Tenn.), 3:49:24
M60-64: Cliff Millemann (Davis, Calif.), 2:56:31
F65-69: Sheri Schrock (Cohasset, Minn.), 4:57:08
M65-69: James Clark (North Haven, Ct.), 3:51:04
M70-74: Charlie Redmond (Tenafly, Pa.), 4:36:15

About USA Triathlon
USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon and paratriathlon in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,300 events and connects with more than 400,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the ITU and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).