He did it again! My son, Bruce Malone, of Rusk, Texas, won his second consecutive Texas Mountain Bike Championship Marathon Series in the 50 plus age class. The six Marathon Series spanned the state from Palo Duro Canyon State Park to El Paso to Smithville and points in between. Race distances varied from 48 to 72 miles and finishing times of four to almost seven hours.

The series came down to the final race in Comfort on January 29, with Bruce holding a two-point lead over Ray Porter, out of Dallas, who was riding for Oak Cliff Bicycle Co. Whoever finished ahead of the other would win the series. Bruce held off Mr. Porter by two minutes to finish in first place with a time of five hours and two minutes. The race was 52 miles long.

At the same venue, Dustin Barton of Blanco, the principal of Blanco High School, finished in first place in the men’s forty plus Half Marathon with a time of two hours and eight minutes. This was the first race of the season for Dustin, who rides for Hammer Head Bicycles out of Austin.

Bruce said all the racers who participated in the Texas Marathon Series wish to thank Hill Country Bicycle works for sponsoring the series.