CYCLING RACE ACROSS AMERICA : Defending Champion Increases His Lead

Riders continued through Texas Thursday during the Race Across America, with defending champion Bob Fourney of Denver nearly doubling his lead over Rob Kish of Port Orange, Fla.

According to race headquarters, Fourney, who is averaging 13.8 m.p.h. and 331 miles per day, reached Meridian, Tex., at 7:28 p.m. (PDT), 47 minutes ahead of Kish. Kish began the day trailing Fourney by 24 minutes.

Last year, Kish led the race through most of Texas and was finally caught by Fourney near the Mississippi River. Fourney then held the lead the rest of the way.

Fourney and Kish were the only riders who reached Meridian on Thursday. Meridian is located 547 miles into Texas and 1,800 miles into the 2,930-mile race. Loren Godshall of Los Altos is in fifth place.

Cathy Ellis of Cambridge, Mass., remained in the lead of the women’s race, and was the only rider to reach time station No. 22 at Vega, Tex., which is 1,347 miles into the course.

Ellis, who is averaging 10.4 m.p.h. and 249 miles per day, reached Vega at 6:22 (PDT), while Debbie Ann Breaud of Burleson, Tex., remained in second place, checking into station No. 21 at Dalhart, Tex., at 12:08 p.m.

The mixed tandem team of Cherie and Tom Moore of Orange reached Dalhart at 12:17 (PDT) Thursday.

The 10th annual race began Saturday in Irvine and will finish in Savannah, Ga., in about three days.