Derek won the ITU in Chile after only 7 months of triathloning and only 6 months of becoming pro.

The Olympic Training Center is nestled just east of the majestic Pike's Peak in Colorado Springs, CO.

Derek has been an LA County lifeguard since 1997.

At Lubbock Christian University, Derek trained with his Kenyan teammates. He continued to train with a few of them post-college in Colorado.

#1 US Ranked Hunter Kemper was the other American male to win an ITU race in 2003.