Great performances at Ironman Los Cabos in Mexico, several XTERRA race reports from around the world, plus another sad hit and run story.
Fontana and Corbin take Los Cabos
Italian Daniel Fontana charged past Switzerland’s Jan Van Berkel on the run and steadily built an insurmountable advantage to take the win at the 2014 Ford Ironman Los Cabos in 8:26:15 with a closing 2:55:06 run. Stephen Bayliss fought a valiant battle to grab the runner-up spot 6 minutes later and Domenico Passuello, who just like the champion hails from Italy, took the final podium position in 8:34:18. Van Berkel dropped all the way back to 7th place behind Americans Patrick Evoe and Matthew Russell who finished 5th and 6th respectively.
American Haley Chura led the women out of the water but her advantage was minor, and once on the bikes Aussie Carrie Lester took charge. Lester led the bunch all the way back to T2 with a race best 5:05:05 bike split and only Linsey Corbin managed to stay in a reasonable distance with her 5:06:19 effort.
During run Corbin reeled in Lester and then pulled away to take the win in 9:16:43. American Lisa Ribes’ very fine 3:02:42 run allowed her to move past Lester for a second place finish and Lester’s great bike effort allowed her to take the third spot despite a 3:24:32 run.
Ironman Los Cabos
Los Cabos, Mexico / March 30, 2014
2.4m swim / 112m bike / 26.2m run
Top men
1. Daniel Fontana (ITA) 8:26:15
2. Stephen Bayliss (GBR) 8:32:19
3. Domenico Passuello (ITA) 8:34:18
4. Swen Sundberg (DEU) 8:38:17
5. Patrick Evoe (USA) 8:40:13
Top women
1. Linsey Corbin (USA) 9:16:43
2. Lisa Ribes (USA) 9:20:40
3. Carrie Lester (AUS) 9:26:35
4. Beth Shutt (USA) 9:32:28
5. Haley Chura (USA) 9:33:35
XTERRA Guam wins for Hugo and Bucher
Dan Hugo looked superb in Guam and dominated the race with fantastic efforts in during the swim, bike and run and managed to grab his 3rd straight title on the XTERRA World Tour. Fellow South African Bradley Weiss finished second and Kiwi Ollie Shaw had his hands full to prevent an all South African podium with youngster Nico Sterk eventually finishing fourth.
“I ran conservatively, especially down the waterfall sections. Unfortunately no camera gets down to the true magic of the run, where the creek meanders through thickets of old bamboo forest,” said Hugo. “The water pools were cool and joyous relief when going in neck deep.”
Carina Wasle and Mieko Carey missed a turn early on in the run and that allowed Renata Bucher to move into the lead. The error cost Wasle more time than Carey and we may never know al the details but in the end Bucher won her 3rd XTERRA Guam title in 5 attempts. Carey finished second and Wasle 3rd.
“After I passed the finish line, they put the XTERRA Guam band in my hand and told me I won the race. I was so surprised and asked where Carina is, but nobody had seen her yet. Winning a race like that, it feels different, not like winning, more like a present from the island of Guam and the people here. I love this place,” said Bucher.
XTERRA Guam
Piti, Guam / March 29, 2014
Top Men
1. Dan Hugo (RSA) 2:28:40
2. Brad Weiss (RSA) 2:35:43
3. Olly Shaw (NZL) 2:39:12
4. Nico Sterk (RSA) 2:43:52
5. Markus Benesch (AUT) 2:45:30
Top women
1. Renata Bucher (SUI) 3:03:52
2. Mieko Carey (JAP) 3:04:33
3. Carina Wasle (AUT) 3:15:11
Chacon and Vanlandingham in Costa Rica
Local favorite Leonardo Chacon dealt best with the heat and overcame a slight disadvantage after the bike to take the win in 2:17:43. American Josiah Middaugh was next in 2:20:40 and Mauricio Mendez from Mexico finished third barely a minute later.
American Shonny Vanlandingham had to work hard on the bike to catch swim leader Christine Jeffrey from Canada, but did so and from there pulled away to take the win in 2:51:08 and a comfortable 7 minute advantage over Jeffrey. The time gap to 3rd placed Flo Dannah from the UK was almost 25 minutes. Not bad for someone who will turn 45 this year.
XTERRA Costa Rica
Playa Conchal, Costa Rica / March 29, 2014
Top men
1. Leonardo Chacon (CRC) 2:17:43
2. Josiah Middaugh (USA) 2:20:40
3. Mauricio Mendez (MEX) 2:21:46
4. Rom Akerson (CRC) 2:25:05
5. Craig Evans (USA) 2:25:47
Top women
1. Shonny Vanlandingham (USA) 2:51:08
2. Christine Jeffrey (CAN) 2:58:23
3. Flo Dannah (GBR) 3:14:53
4. Laura Mira Diaz (BRA) 3:14:58
Allen, Slack take XTERRA Great Ocean Road
Annabel Luxford, Rebecca Hosckke, Drew Box, Eduardo Sturla and Mitchell Anderson tried their offroad skills at the XTERRA Great Ocean Road event, but when it was all said and done only Box managed to get on the podium. The men’s race was won by Aussie Ben Allen and the women’s race dominated by Brit Jacqui Slack. Box finished second in the men’s event, Anderson 4th and Luxford grabbed 5th place in the women’s race.
“I raced smart and in control. I had a plan and I executed it to perfection. I'm honored to win on home soil in front of my family and friends. A huge highlight was crossing the line with my nephew Jayden. My whole family came down to support Jacqui and I. It's the best feeling in the world to put on a good performance and show them what I can do,” said Allen.
XTERRA Great Ocean Road
Anglesea, Victoria, OZ / March 30, 2014
Top men
1. Ben Allen (AUS) 1:57:14
2. Roger Serrano (ESP) 2:00:07
3. Drew Box (AUS) 2:02:40
4. Mitchell Anderson (AUS) 2:05:27
5. Alex Hunt (AUS) 2:07:08
Top women
1. Jacqui Slack (GBR) 2:16:19
2. Deanna Blegg (AUS) 2:27:49
3. Penny Hosken (AUS) 2:28:41
4. Peri Gray (AUS) 2:29:51
5. Annabel Luxford (AUS) 2:31:22
Hit and run and more
The LA Times reported this weekend that San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver was arrested Friday after he allegedly struck a bicyclist, attempted to flee the scene and then threatened a witness with brass knuckles after he was cornered.
As the story in the LA Times goes, 25-year old Cullifer was driving a white Ford Mustang when he struck a cyclist and attempted to flee the scene. A witness then followed Cullifer and tried to stop the NFL player from leaving. According to police Cullifer then threatened the witness with brass knuckles and drove away.
