McQuaid second at XTERRA West Champs

Victoria’s Melanie McQuaid finished second (2:28:21) to the USA’s Shonny Vanlandingham (2:24:14) at the XTERRA West Championships held at Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort in Henderson, Nevada yesterday. Guelph’s Christine Jeffrey led the swim and ended up finishing in fourth (2:33:50), while Calgary’s Rosemarie Gerspacher (2:34:55) was fifth.

“It’s the first race of the year so I just had to blow the cobwebs out of the system ya know. It was pretty hot today and I’m coming from the cold and winter at home so it’s just a shock to the system,” said McQuaid to the XTERRA Media. “I wasn’t feeling very good in the heat, which comes with high end fitness that I just don’t have that yet, and that’s by design so I’m happy that I was able to hold off the other girls.”

South Africa’s Conrad Stoltz won his fourth XTERRA West Championship in a row (2:06:47), beating the USA’s Josiah Middaugh by just 39 seconds (2:07:26). Caledon’s Sean Bechtel had a great swim but experienced difficulties on the bike to finish 28^th (2:32:57) in his first XTERRA race.

On the age group front three Calgarians ruled the day. Winning their age groups were Sheila Croft (W 35-39 — 2:50:22), Lyndsey Clapperton (W 45-49 — 3:06:09), and Calvin Zaryski (M 40-44 — 2:22:36).

The race consisted of a 1-mile swim in Lake Las Vegas, a 17-mile mountain bike ride in the desert hills, and a tough 6-mile hilly trail run.

Pro Men

1. Conrad Stoltz  (RSA)  2:06:47

2. Josiah Middaugh (USA)  2:07:26

3. Brian Smith (USA)  2:10:01

4. Seth Wealing (USA)  2:14:14

5. Nicolas Lebrun (FRA)  2:15:53

6. Cody Waite (USA)  2:16:50

7. Craig Evans (USA)  2:18:44

8. Trevor Glavin (USA)  2:20:58

9. Ryan DeCook  (USA) 2:22:22

10. Branden Rakita (USA)  2:27:08

28. Sean Bechtel (CAN)  2:32:57

Pro Women

1. Shonny Vanlandingham (USA)  2:24:14

2. Melanie McQuaid (CAN)  2:28:21

3. Lesley Paterson (SCO)  2:30:04

4. Christine Jeffrey (CAN)  2:33:50

5. Rosemarie Gerspacher (CAN) 2:34:55

6. Renata Bucher (SUI)  2:37:05

7. Emma Garrard (USA)  2:37:57

8. Sara Tarkington (USA)  2:42:28

9. Tracy Thelen (USA)  2:46:30

10. Daz Parker (ENG)  2:47:50

XTERRA WEST CHAMPS CHAMPIONS (FEMALE AGE GROUP)

Division             Name             Time             Hometown

35 – 39              Sheila Croft                             2:50:22             Calgary, AB

45 – 49              Lyndsey Clapperton             3:06:09             Calgary, AB

XTERRA WEST CHAMPS CHAMPIONS (MALE AGE GROUP)

Division             Name             Time             Hometown

40 – 44              Calvin Zaryski                         2:22:36             Calgary, AB