Garrard, Middaugh Take USA Triathlon Winter Nationals

Top Finishers Will Represent the U.S. at ITU Winter Worlds

USA Triathlon

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January 15, 2011 (Midway, UT) – Standout off-road triathletes Emma Garrard and Josiah Middaugh took their talents to the snow Saturday, earning the overall national titles at the 2011 USA Triathlon Winter Triathlon National Championship at Soldier Hollow.

Middaugh (Vail, Colo.) posted a winning time of 56 minutes, 31 seconds to edge two-time defending champion Brian Smith (Gunnison, Colo.), who finished in 57:16 in the 5-kilometer run, 10-kilometer mountain bike and 8-kilometer cross-country ski event.

Garrard (Park City, Utah) grabbed the women’s title in 1:07:48 to finish more than 2 minutes clear of the closest women’s competitor.

By virtue of their victories, Garrard and Middaugh secured spots on the U.S. team for the 2011 ITU Elite Winter Triathlon World Championship, which is slated for March 26-27 in Jamijarvi, Finland. The top three male and female American finishers claimed the right to represent the United States.

Heather Best (Fairbanks, Alaska) took second in the women’s race in 1:10:15, and Paula Hudson (Park City, Utah) grabbed third in 1:12:24. Ben Sim finished third in the men’s race in 58:38, followed by two-time champion Mike Kloser (Vail, Colo.) in 1:00:31.

Both Middaugh and Garrard grabbed the lead on the run. Middaugh held an 8-second advantage over Smith entering T1 and extended his margin on the bike. Smith made up ground on the ski portion of the race but finished 45 seconds back of Middaugh.

Garrard, who was seventh at the world championship and teamed with Best and Rebecca Dussalt to earn the women’s relay world title a year ago, had a 6-second lead following the run, dropped to second on the bike but regained the lead with a 24:24 ski split to take the title.

For the second consecutive year USA Triathlon’s Winter Nationals were held in conjunction with the BASH Winter Tri. Soldier Hollow was the 2002 Winter Olympic venue for cross-country skiing and biathlon.