Stoltz and Bucher win in Waco
McQuaid third, Jeffrey fifth
South Africa’s Conrad Stoltz and Switzerland’s Renata Bucher won today’s XTERRA South Central Championship at Cameron Park in Waco, Texas.
Bucher caught Victoria’s Melanie McQuaid at the end of the bike ride, and then extended that lead on the run, taking the win in 2:17:59. The Colorado’s Shonny Vanlandingham was second (2:20:14), and McQuaid was third (2:23:48). Guelph’s Christine Jeffrey led the swim (20:00), and ended up in fifth (2:28:03).
Stoltz, a three-time XTERRA World Champion, took advantage of a race best bike split (two minutes faster than anyone else) to win in 2:02:21. Trailing him were Josiah Middaugh of Colorado (2:05:26), and France’s Nicolas Lebrun (2:06:300.
The race consisted of a one-mile swim in the Brazos River, a challenging 15-mile mountain bike ride on forested single track, and a grueling six-mile trail run.
Top 5 Pro Women
1. Renata Bucher (SUI)Â 2:17:59
2. Shonny Vanlandingham (USA)Â 2:20:14
3. Melanie McQuaid (CAN)Â 2:23:48
4. Emma Garrard (USA)Â 2:27:46
5. Christine Jeffrey (CAN)Â 2:28:03
Top 5 Pro men
1. Conrad Stoltz (RSA)Â 2:02:21
2. Josiah Middaugh (USA)Â 2:05:26
3. Nicolas Lebrun (FRA)Â 2:06:30
4. Craig Evans (USA)Â 2:08:09
5. Ryan DeCook (USA)Â 2:11:02