Sika Henry

Sika Henry is a competitive triathlete, two-time marathon winner, and a former collegiate high jumper. Sika currently resides in Newport News, VA, where she works as a full-time analyst for Ferguson Enterprises. When she isn’t working, Sika focuses on the IRONMAN 70.3 distance and has podiumed at every IRONMAN 70.3 race she completed in 2018 and 2019. After competing at the 2019 IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, her goal is now to become the FIRST African American woman to turn pro in triathlon.

Sika is passionate about increasing diversity within the sport (African Americans make up only 0.5% of the sport) and enjoys sharing her race experiences on her blog: http://why-i-run.blogspot.com/. In 2018 Sika was chosen as the guest speaker for USA Triathlon’s announcement that Hampton University would become the first historically black institution to add women’s triathlon as a varsity sport. Sika has also spoken at the Triathlon Business International Conference and Outspoken: Women in Triathlon Summit; and has written numerous articles, including Changing the Face of Triathlon for USA Triathlon and The Power of Image in Triathlon for Livefeisty.com.

You can follow her journey on Instagram or check her out here.

 Plans for 2020:

• One City Half Marathon
• Challenge Cancun
• IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman
• Rev 3 Williamsburg

Elliot Bach

Sean Daugherty

Sean Daugherty (nickname SK) is a profession triathlete based in Boulder, CO.  As a distance runner turned triathlete, Sean has established himself as a professional on the long course racing circuit, with multiple top 10 finishes at the 70.3 distance within his 5 year career.  He competes fiercely on the course, while also enjoying the lifestyle and camaraderie the sport brings, which is why we love him here at Speed Hound.  His determination and relentless pursuit of being his best is why we love him here at Speed Hound.  You can follow his journey on Instagram or check him out here.

College and Major: University of Colorado at Boulder, Marketing
Birthday: 01/30/1993
2018 Highlights:

1. 5th place - 2018 Wildflower Triathlon
2. 7th place - Ironman 70.3 Boulder
3. 11th place - Ironman 70.3 Waco

Three words to describe myself: tenacious, passionate, easygoing
Favorite music: Punk Rock (I grew up playing in punk bands)
Favorite TV Show: New Girl
Biggest Fans: My parents. They’ve never once questioned my decision to pursue the highest level in this sport, rarely ever miss one of my races, and have backed me 100%, win or lose.

Things I learned from my first triathlon: Get a race belt! I came from a running
background, where you always just safety pin your bib to your top. After swimming in sub 60 degree water with no wetsuit, I came into T1 and frantically tried to put on a tight-fitting top with a bib already pinned on. Needless to say, it was a mess. Don’t be me in this scenario.

Advice to age-group athletes who want to improve: Invest in a coach who not only writes up a solid plan, but is an effective communicator. Triathlon is just one part of your life, and plans may need to be adjusted based on how you’re feeling day-to-day, your work life, family events, etc.

Favorite place to run: I’ve been to plenty of great spots, but I’m going to have to go with either Snodgrass Trail or Lower Loop in Crested Butte. I spent a few summers there training for cross country season, and it’s an absolute paradise for me.

Favorite Speed Hound Product: The Alcatraz Swim Goggles. They are the most
comfortable goggles I’ve worn since I started racing. Never had any leaks, and never had an issue sighting in open water, the two things that can really be a problem when it comes to the swim leg.

Plans for 2019: 

• IM 70.3 Oceanside - Season opener! (3rd year in a row)
• Wildflower Triathlon - the most fun you could ever have at a race (and maybe the most suffering you can go through too)
• IM 70.3 Gulf Coast
• IM Boulder - my first full distance! Any and all advice is welcome…

Sarah Crouch

Sarah Crouch is a Professional Marathon and 4-time Olympic Trials Qualifier runner based in Flagstaff, Arizona. Sarah was ranked in the Top-10 of all US Marathoners in 2018 by Track and Field News and persisted through 4 years without a personal best in any distance before her 2018 breakthrough. Sarah attributes much of her success to introducing a more well-rounded lifestyle serving others outside of her own athletic pursuits, achieving her certification as a Certified Birth Doula to assist women during labor and birth and volunteering weekly at her local homeless shelter, The Mission. When she isn’t running, Sarah enjoys coaching nearly 40 runners of all ages and abilities, reading, writing and oil painting.  You can follow her journey on her blog and Instragram.

Birthday: 8/22/1989

Race Highlights:

1)   Top American Finisher and 6^th place overall at the 2018 Chicago Marathon in a PR of 2:32:37 

2)   1:11:30 Personal Best in the half marathon at Gary Bjorklund half in June of 2018

3)   3^rd place at US 25K Championships

Kearci Smith

Kearci Smith is a former college runner turned professional triathlete. Her passion had always been running until she was introduced to triathlon in 2012. She was a National Champion in 2017 at Age Group Nationals Sprint Championships and named Texas State Champion in 2016 and 2017. She has competed in three Age Group World Championships in Olympic distance. Of which she placed 5th in her age group (25-29y/o) in 2017. Kearci qualified for two Ironman 70.3 World Championships, competing in one; Ironman 70.3 World Championship Mooloolaba, 2016. She has done a triathlon in 5 out of 7 continents. 

Kearci began her career as a professional triathlete in 2018 where she competed in multiple international draft-legal events as well as Beijing International Triathlon. In 2019, she was invited to compete at the prestigious Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon. She completed seven 70.3 distance races in her 2019 finishing as high as 9th place in Campeche. She won 1st overall female at Jacks Generic Triathlon September 2019.

Kearci and her husband, Lewis, trekked to Mount Everest Base Camp in October 2019. As if pursuing the highest level of the sport is not enough, Kearci also works full time as an exercise physiologist in Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab in Plano, TX, helping patients bounce back from life changing heart events as well as improve quality of life in patients with chronic lung disease. She enjoys telling corny jokes, making people laugh, spending time outdoors and playing with her dogs Harlie (11y/o lab) and Penny (6month old Corgi). Through her triathlon experience she hopes she can relate to so many triathletes by sharing her genuine, raw, uncut life as a pro triathlete.  You can follow her journey here and here.

Evan Pardi

Evan Pardi is a professional triathlete in Tempe, AZ from Yachats, Oregon. A fan of all fermented/distilled grains, Formula 1, BBQ, and shredding local trails, Evan enjoys life fast, interesting, and intense. In his 2019 pro season, Evan has finished top 15 in two Ironman 70.3 races and 9th place at the Herbalife24 Los Angeles Triathlon. Additionally, he finished 7th in the highly competitive Xterra Oak Mountain event earning him a berth at the 2019 XTERRA World Championship pro field. Evan intends to focus on off-road events like Xterra Victoria, Xterra Beaver Creek, Xterra Pan American Championships and Xterra Portland. As a mountain biker, Evan finished mid pack at the prestigious Whiskey 50 pro mountain bike event in Prescott, AZ. As well as being a triathlete, Evan plays the double bass as a doctoral student at Arizona State under the guidance of the legendary Catalin Rotaru. He performs regularly with the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Arizona Broadway Theatre, West Valley Symphony Orchestra, and the Cactus Chamber Players. Evan is currently engaged to his fiance Sarah Richards and will be married in Oregon in September 2019. They live along the Ironman Arizona course in Tempe with their fat cat named Stryker and more bikes and basses than their apartment should likely hold.

Ricardo Mazzini

Ricardo Mazzini is the first age group athlete sponsored by Speed Hound.  He grew up in Lima, Peru and currently lives in Northern California.  In 2011, he started competing in triathlons in 2011 and found success through discipline, perseverance, and resilience.  Like many of age-groupers, he juggles a demanding full-time job, spending quality time with his wife, and chasing PRs at sprint to 70.3 distances.  Even with all this, he has proven that one can qualify for 2018 70.3 Worlds and take top 3 AG spots!  That is #missionpossible in action! 

Ricardo is passionate about helping others achieve their goals through the sport of triathlon.  You can find him on Instagram @rickyyxime or on his website.