Stoltz and Vanlandingham win XTERRA World Championship

South African Conrad Stoltz and American Shonny Vanlandingham used dominating bike rides today to take overall wins at the 15th XTERRA World Championship, along with $20 000 each.

Stoltz, who celebrated his 37^th birthday yesterday, completed the 1 mile swim off Makena Beach in 19:48, then smashed the 20 mile bike ride up and down the slopes of the Haleakala Volcana in 1:25:39 (5:33 better than the next fastest rider) giving him a 5 minute lead heading onto the run. Onto the final 7 mile trail and beach run, Stoltz maintained his lead with a 45:40 run, and stopped the clock in 2:31:07 to win his record fourth XTERRA World Title (his previous wins came in 2001, 2002 and 2007). France’s Franky Batelier grabbed second (2:36:14), and Austria’s Michael Weiss was third (2:36:45). Edmonton’s Mike Vine finished ninth (2:41:53).

“I don’t think I could have done a better race today, it was really, really magical,” said Stoltz to XTERRA. “I will treasure this memory forever.”

Vanlandingham, 41, won her first XTERRA World Championship in a similar way to Stoltz. She swam 24:20, then came from behind to take control of the race with a 1:42:40 ride (5:09 better than anyone else). Her final run of 51:20 was just enough to preserve the win (2:58:20) over the defending champion, England’s Julie Dibens (2:59:32), who led the race up until the 16 mile mark of the bike. France’s Marion Lorblanchet finished third (3:06:11), just ahead of Guleph’s Christine Jeffrey (3:07:22). Jeffrey led all women out of the water in 19:41 (third fastest overall).

“Coming into the race, I knew I had to be in the lead after the bike to have a chance,” said Vanlandingham. “I came in about a minute ahead off the bike and I didn’t feel that was very comfortable, but it was enough.”

Dibens and Spain’s Eneko Llanos won the Hawaiian Airlines Double Award (fastest combined times at the XTERRA World Championship and the Ford Ironman World Championship).

Pro Men

1.  Conrad Stoltz (RSA)  19:48  01:25:39  00:45:40    2:31:07

2.  Franky Batelier (FRA)  20:01  01:31:46  00:44:27    2:36:14

3.  Michael Weiss (AUS)  20:46  01:31:12  00:44:47    2:36:45

4.  Olivier Marceau (FRA)  19:43  01:33:30  00:44:34    2:37:47

5.  Nicholas Lebrun (FRA)  21:33  01:33:16  00:44:01    2:38:50

6.  Eneko Llanos (ESP)  19:51  01:35:06  00:45:47    2:40:44

7.  Richard Ussher (NZL)  21:40  01:35:10  00:44:13    2:41:03

8.  Felix Schumann (GER)  20:07  01:36:20  00:45:04    2:41:31

9.  Mike Vine (CAN)  20:58  01:35:25  00:45:30    2:41:53

10.  Jim Thijs (BEL)  20:30  01:36:45  00:46:11    2:43:26

30. Jordan Bryden (CAN)  20:12  1:50:28  00:48:53   2:59:33

Pro Women

1.  Shonny Vanlandingham (USA)  24:20  01:42:40  00:51:20    2:58:20

2.  Julie Dibens (UK)  20:10  01:47:49  00:51:33    2:59:32

3.  Marion Lorblanchet (FRA)  20:45  01:56:47  00:48:39    3:06:11

4.  Christine Jeffrey (CAN)  19:41  01:55:48  00:51:53    3:07:22

5.  Suzie Snyder (USA)  21:39  01:53:05  00:53:20    3:08:04

6.  Carina Wasle (AUS)  25:03  01:54:05  00:48:58    3:08:06

7.  Lesley Paterson (SCO)  22:36  01:56:33  00:52:28    3:11:37

8.  Sara Tarkington (USA)  23:40  01:55:56  00:52:09    3:11:45

9.  Emma Ruth Smith (GBR)  23:49  01:54:13  00:53:51    3:11:53

10.  Emma Garrard USA)  23:04  01:53:39  00:56:55    3:13:38

11.  Melanie McQuaid (CAN)  21:37  01:51:59  01:01:53    3:15:29

12.  Danelle Kabush (CAN)  25:11  01:58:02  00:53:00    3:16:13

14. Marie-Helene Premont (CAN)  31:11  2:01:38  57:27   3:30:16