Conrad Stoltz and Melanie McQuaid continued their domination of the 2009 XTERRA Cup Series with wins at the XTERRA Southeast Cup in Pelham, Alabama Saturday. Stoltz and McQuaid have started the eight-race 2009 season with sizzling perfection, winning the May 2 Loews Las Vegas XTERRA West Cup and the May 17 XTERRA Midwest Cup in Augusta Michigan before their wins at Oak Mountain Park.
Stoltz emerged from the 1.5km swim in 4th place, 36 seconds behind Craig Evans but 78-seconds ahead of dangerous rival Josiah Middaugh. Stoltz then took control in the rugged 29 kilometer mountain bike leg with a race-best 1:02:29 split, 47 seconds better than the next best effort of eventual runner-up Middaugh. By the finish, Stoltz’s fourth-best 39:38 10k trail run gave back 1:29 to Middaugh but still left the South African a 52-seconds margin of victory in an overall time of 2:04:26.
McQuaid of Canada won the women’s contest wire to wire, starting with a race-best 22:48 that gave her a 1:36 advantage over eventual runner-up Lesley Paterson of San Diego and 3:10 over Swiss threat Renata Bucher. McQuaid cinched the win with a race-best 1:14:21 bike, which put another 63 seconds on Bucher and 3:47 on Paterson . Paterson’s second-best 42:27 run took back 3:12 from McQuaid, but still left the Canadian with a 2:42 margin of victory in an overall time of 2:23:51.
On a weekend when many in the triathlon and cycling worlds were celebrating the life of Steve Larsen, who died Tuesday, the XTERRA winners both dedicated their races to the 39-year-old Bend, Oregon father of five.
"Steve was such a huge inspiration for me coming from a mountain biking background. I felt really strong today,” McQuaid told XTERRA media.
Stoltz told XTERRA media, "the technical parts are usually my strengths, but today I couldn't focus. I did feel like I had amazing strength today though. This was a great victory for Steve."
Xterra Southeast Cup
Pelham, Alabama
May 23, 2009
S 1.5k/ MTB 29k/ R 10k
Results
Men
1. Conrad Stoltz (RSA) 2:04:26 -- $1800
2. Josiah Middaugh (Vail CO) 2:05:18 -- $1250
3. Mike Vine (CAN) 2:06:57 -- $800
4. Dan Hugo (RSA) 2:08:06 -- $500
5. Nico Lebrun (FRA) 2:09:06 -- $400
6. Craig Evans (Spring Hill TN) 2:10:13 -- $300
7. Cody Waite (Wheat Ridge CO) 2:15:46 -- $200
8. Branden Rakita (Mawitoo Springs CO) 2:17:57
9. Will Kelsay (Boulder CO) 2:20:17
10. Nat Faulkner (CAN) 2:230:36 8 top amateur M30-34
Women
1. Melanie McQuaid (CAN) 2:23:51 -- $1800
2. Lesley Paterson (San Diego CA) 2:26:33 -- $1250
3. Renata Bucher (SUI) 2:28:45 - $800
4. Shonny Vanlandingham (Durango CO) 2:29:02 -- $500
5. Emma Garrard (Truckee CA) 2:32:10 -- $400
6. Jenny Smith (NZL) 2:33:10
7. Danelle Kabush (CAN) 2:33:19
8. Kristy Lanier (2:37:37
9. Erin Kummer (Boulder CO) 2:45:06
10. Alexandra Borrelly (FRA) 2:50:38
11. Brook Pace (Tallahassee FL) * top amateur W30-34
2009 XTERRA CUP SERIES STANDINGS
Men
1 Conrad Stoltz 100 100 100 300
2 Josiah Middaugh 90 82 90 262
3 Mike Vine 75 90 82 247
4 Dan Hugo 82 75 75 232
5 Craig Evans 49 49 63 161
6 Branden Rakita 45 53 53 151
7 Nico Lebrun DNF 69 69 138
8 Cody Waite 34 41 58 133
9 Brian Smith 53 58 DNS 111
10 Will Kelsay 31 31 49 111
11 Seth Wealing 37 63 DNS 100
12 Matt Boobar DNS 34 45 79
13 Jasper Blake 69 DNS DNS 69
14 Steve Larsen 63 DNS DNS 63
Women
1 Melanie McQuaid 100 100 100 300
2 Renata Bucher 75 90 82 247
3 Shonny Vanlandingham 90 75 75 240
4 Emma Garrard 63 58 69 190
5 Jenny Smith 53 69 63 185
6 Lesley Paterson 82 DNS 90 172
7 Christine Jeffrey 69 82 DNS 151
8 Alexandra Borrelly 31 53 45 129
9 Danelle Kabush 49 DNS 58 107
10 Erin Kummer DNS 49 49 98
