Middaugh, Vanlandingham Win 2013 XTERRA Mountain Championship

Beaver Creek Resort – Avon, CO – Josiah Middaugh and Shonny Vanlandingham won the XTERRA Mountain Championship on a picture-perfect blue sky day at Beaver Creek Resort in Avon, Colorado this morning.

Middaugh, 33, the reigning XTERRA USA Champion and winner of three straight regional championship races on the XTERRA U.S. Pro Series, erased a two-minute deficit to the leaders coming out of the swim by the top of the first big climb at about mile four of the bike then posted the fastest bike and run times to take the tape in 2:08:00, nearly six-minutes ahead of runner-up Branden Rakita from Colorado Springs.

It’s Middaugh’s second XTERRA Mountain Championship victory in three years on his home turf where he lives just a mile from the course.

“Super excited because this is a really special race, one of the most important races I’ll do this year and it feels really good to win on my home course,” said Middaugh.

The win means Middaugh will take a perfect score into Nationals September 21 at Snowbasin Resort near Ogden, Utah and is in prime position to win the Series for the first time.  Add his USA Championship win last year followed by a close 2nd to Javier Gomez at XTERRA Worlds with his three victories this year, and Middaugh could be the best he’s ever been.

“I’ve been injury free for a while and my training is as good as it has ever been.  I feel like there wasn’t anything special about what I did today, I just did what I’m trained to do. In other years it hasn’t worked out when I’ve felt super strong — I’d have a bad race or mechanicals. Maybe it’s experience. I don’t know, but it’s all coming together so I guess you could say I’m at the pinnacle of my career right now,” said Middaugh.

Even so, Middaugh has no intention of letting up with Nationals and Worlds on the horizon.

“Well, first I’m going on vacation tomorrow morning for a week, then I’ll get back into it and put together a good progression, 10-week training plan to Ogden,” said Middaugh.  “I focused on Ogden last year and played all my cards to have a big peak there and go confidently into Maui.  I still want to have a peak performance at Nationals for sure, but I’ll have Maui in mind a little more this year.”

Behind Middaugh was a great race for second-place with Branden Rakita leading Ben Hoffman by a tail nearly all day.  It would be Rakita’s career-best performance at a U.S. major, especially impressive considering he spent the last couple weeks in Europe racing at XTERRA France and the ITU Cross Tri Worlds in the Netherlands.

“Feels really good, like a lot of hard work has paid off,” said Rakita.

Hoffman, the IRONMAN great who’s won his last three long-distance IM races, hung with Rakita until a flat towards the end of the bike lost him some time and momentum but still managed to run strong into 3rd for the second straight year on this course.

Cody Waite also had a career-day, finished 4th for the first time. Waite also earned high-praise from women’s winner Shonny Vanlandingham, who credited the training program he built for her as one of the big reasons for her recent success.

“I started working with Cody and his EPC coaching business after Vegas and since then have gradually gotten more and more power.  He’s great, and good with older athletes as it’s more about quality than quantity, his program is really working for me,” said Vanlandingham.

Also of note, Ryan Ignatz finished fifth to push him just a point behind Rakita in 4th in the Pro Series heading into Nationals. Dan Hugo earned some valuable points today as well with his 7th place finish (despite a bum hip), catapulting him into the No. 2 spot behind Middaugh.  Kyle Leto made a splash in his XTERRA debut with the fastest swim and a 6th place finish.

Pro Men

Pl	Name	Age	Hometown	Time	Points
1	Josiah Middaugh	33	Vail, Colorado	2:08:00	100
2	Branden Rakita	32	Colorado Springs, Colorado	2:13:56	90
3	Ben Hoffman	29	Boulder, Colorado	2:14:20	82
4	Cody Waite	34	Lakewood, Colorado	2:15:38	75
5	Ryan Ignatz	34	Boulder, Colorado	2:16:52	69
6	Kyle Leto	27	Boulder, Colorado	2:17:31	63
7	Dan Hugo	27	Stellenbosch, South Africa	2:21:31	58
8	Jason Michalak	35	Lakewood, Colorado	2:23:02	53
9	Bradley Weiss	24	Somerset West, South Africa	2:23:45	49
10	Will Kelsay	32	Boulder, Colorado	2:25:41	45

Also:  Will Ross (41), Chris Ganter (37), Tom Goth (34), Patrick Valentine (31), Craig Evans (28), Brad Zoller, Andy Lee, Matt Mangen, Joshua Merrick

Vanlandingham Wins, Dibens Returns

Shonny Vanlandingham has now won the Mountain Championship race here at Beaver Creek in four of the last five years (and she sat out last year due to injury).

The 2010 XTERRA World Champ was more than four minutes behind the swim leaders — Julie Dibens and Flora Duffy — but made it all up to take the lead into the bike-to-run transition and held on for the win in 2:29:51, nearly two-minutes ahead of last year’s winner Danelle Kabush of Canada.

“This is the first time my knee hasn’t hurt on the run since I injured it in 2011,” said Vanlandingham.  “It’s a long rehab process, and I’m still rehabbing.  I’m not as good as 2010 but hoping with two more months I can contend this year at Worlds.  At one point I thought I would never contend again, but I’m encouraged lately and really happy to be getting stronger and stronger.”

Despite growing up in Texas, Vanlandingham — a 7x member of the U.S. National Mountain Biking Team — seems at home in the mountains.  “I’ve been in Durango for 15 years, so probably more of a mountain girl now with a Texas accent.”

The day was made all the more special because her Dad was in the audience, witness to her latest triumph.

“I wanted to say thanks to my Dad for riding his motorcycle all the way up from Texas to watch the race,” said Vanlandingham at the awards ceremony.  “He’s been my biggest fan. I’m 44 and played a lot of sports and he’s traveled all over the country on his motorcycle to watch my various activities … this one’s for you Dad.”

Danelle Kabush put together another strong Mountain race — posted the fastest run split of the day — to finish in 2nd and Kelley Cullen continued to show her prowess in the Rockies with a third-place finish.

With reigning XTERRA U.S. National Champ Suzie Snyder striding into fourth, it was a good day for the Luna Girls.  Meanwhile Emma Garrard keeps getting faster, and had a season-best 5th place showing today, just seven months removed from having her first baby.

The feel-good story of the day goes to Julie Dibens, who raced her first tri since 2011 when she was leading off the bike at IRONMAN Worlds in Kona before having to pull due to injury.  She led the bike through the first 10 miles before Vanlandingham took charge, and ultimately finished in 7th after testing the waters on what she could do on the run.

“It was great to be back out on the race course,” said Dibens.  “Physically, it was much as I expected…ugly! Mentally, the hardest part was putting myself out there, but I’m glad I did! Injury wise… I held up pretty well. I struggled to run on the steep ups and downs, especially on the single track, but on flatter ground everything felt good. I now feel confident that I can push the fitness on in training a bit and see if I can get back in the mix with these tough girls.”

The best news for XTERRA fans is that Maui and a shot to become the first woman to win four XTERRA World Championship titles is in her sights.

Pro Women

Pl	Name	Age	Hometown	Time	Points
1	Shonny Vanlandingham	44	Durango, Colorado	2:29:51	100
2	Danelle Kabush	37	Calgary, Canada	2:31:39	90
3	Kelley Cullen	32	New Castle, Colorado	2:33:38	82
4	Suzie Snyder	31	Fredericksburg, Virginia	2:34:02	75
5	Emma Garrard	30	Park City, Utah	2:36:25	69
6	Flora Duffy	25	Boulder, Colorado	2:38:07	63
7	Julie Dibens	38	Boulder, Colorado	2:38:32	58
8	Tammy Jacques	46	Steamboat Springs, Colorado	2:41:32	53
9	Jaime Brede	36	Breckenridge, Colorado	2:44:42	49
10	Brandi Heisterman	38	Brackendale, B.C., Canada	2:45:55	45

Also: Tamara Donelson (41), Heidi Rentz (37), Jari Kirkland (34), Caroline Colonna (31)

XTERRA US Pro Series Update

The table has been set.  In the men’s field Middaugh has a seemingly commanding perfect score of 300 with Dan Hugo inching up to 2nd position with 248, and Branden Rakita and Ryan Ignatz not far behind in 3rd and 4th position.  For the women, the “Scottish Rocket” Lesley Paterson controls her own destiny — with a perfect score just like Middaugh.  It’s a tighter race though, with Vanlandingham’s 272 points creating some probabilities. Pros count their best three of four regionals plus their score at the USA Championship in Utah to determine the Series winner.

Here’s a look at the standings:

Pro Men

Pl	Name	West	S’East	East	Mtn	Totals
1	Josiah Middaugh	100	100	DNS	100	300
2	Dan Hugo	DNS	90	100	58	248
3	Branden Rakita	82	63	x49	90	235
4	Ryan Ignatz	75	DNS	90	69	234
5	Bradley Weiss	DNS	75	82	49	206
6	Craig Evans	63	82	58	x28	203
7	Nick Fisher	37	69	75	DNS	181
8	Will Kelsay	49	58	69	x45	176
9	Cody Waite	DNS	45	41	75	161
10	Jason Michalak	58	34	DNS	53	145
11	Matt Mangen	53	53	DNS	DNP	106
12	Andy Lee	DNS	37	63	DNP	100
13	Conrad Stoltz	90	DNF	DNS	DNS	90
14	Chris Ganter	DNF	49	DNS	37	86
15	Will Ross	DNP	41	DNS	41	82
16	Ben Hoffman	DNS	DNS	DNS	82	82
17	Matt Lieto	69	DNS	DNS	DNS	69
18	Tim Snow	DNS	31	37	DNS	68
19	Kyle Leto	DNS	DNS	DNS	63	63
20	Karsten Madsen	DNS	DNS	53	DNS	53
21	Brian Astell	45	DNS	DNS	DNS	45
22	Ryan DeCook	DNS	DNP	45	DNS	45
23	Lewis Elliot	41	DNS	DNS	DNS	41
24	Matthew Sheeks	34	DNS	DNS	DNS	34
25	Brad Zoller	DNS	DNS	34	DNP	34
26	Tom Goth	DNS	DNS	DNS	34	34
27	Zach Winter	31	DNS	DNS	DNS	31
28	Patrick Valentine	DNS	DNS	DNS	31	31
29	Damian Gonzalez	28	DNP	DNS	DNS	28
30	Tom Eickelbert	DNS	28	DNS	DNS	28
31	Joshua Merrick	DNP	DNS	DNS	DNP

Pro Women

1	Lesley Paterson	100	100	100	DNS	300
2	Shonny Vanlandingham	82	x75	90	100	272
3	Melanie McQuaid	75	90	75	DNS	240
4	Suzie Snyder	90	69	x63	75	234
5	Danelle Kabush	69	x58	69	90	228
6	Brandi Heisterman	x41	82	82	45	209
7	Emma Garrard	58	63	DNS	69	190
8	Caroline Colonna	37	45	49	34	165
9	Kelley Cullen	63	DNS	DNS	82	145
10	Christine Jeffrey	31	53	58	DNS	142
11	Katie Button	DNS	49	53	DNS	102
12	Jaime Brede	53	DNS	DNS	49	102
13	Tamara Donelson	45	DNS	DNS	41	86
14	Flora Duffy	DNS	DNS	DNS	63	63
15	Julie Dibens	DNS	DNS	DNS	58	58
16	Tammy Jacques	DNS	DNS	DNS	53	53
17	Jen Gersbach-Venzara	49	DNS	DNS	DNS	49
18	Catherine Sterling	DNS	DNS	45	DNS	45
19	Heather Holmes	DNS	41	DNS	DNS	41
20	Heidi Rentz	DNS	DNS	DNS	37	37
21	Rachel Challis	34	DNS	DNS	DNS	34
22	Jari Kirkland	DNS	DNS	DNS	34	34
22	Lauren Harrison	28	DNS	DNS	DNS	28

Modestou, Finchamp Win Age Group Titles

Alex Modestou, 27, from Washington D.C. won the men’s amateur race in 2:23:22 and Hannah Rae Finchamp, 18, of Altadena, California won the women’s amateur race in 2:42:15.  Both finished 9th overall in their respective genders. It’s a remarkable win for Modestou – his second overall amateur win (he took Richmond too) as an “East Coast” guy took it to the altitude kings; and incredible for Finchamp as she’s still just 18-years-old.

More than 400 racers from 22 states and seven countries took part in the annual challenge that combines a 1-mile swim in Nottingham Lake (66-degree water temperature), a 15-mile bike that gains 3,600 feet (high point 9,400) and a 6-mile trail run that goes up-and-down the ski slope trails at Beaver Creek Resort with another 1,300-feet of climbing.

Also of note, Brent Bieshaar completed race No. 17 in his XTERRA Across America journey to complete an XTERRA every weekend of the 2013 season.  Five more points series races left, plus Nationals and Worlds.  Read all about it at www.xterraacrossamerica.com.

Here’s a look at all the age group champions, who earned a coveted qualifying spot into the XTERRA World Championship, along with other top finishers in each division:

XTERRA Mountain Champions (Female Age Groups)

Division	Name	Time	Hometown
15  – 19	* Hannah Rae Finchamp	2:42:15	Altadena, CA
20 – 24	Tess Amer	2:48:28	Boulder, CO
25 – 29	Adrienne Young	2:59:51	Vail, CO
30 – 34	Meghan Sheridan	2:47:07	Sandy, UT
35 – 39	Jennifer Razee	2:49:16	Edwards, CO
40 – 44	Kerry White	3:26:57	Avon, CO
45 – 49	Jen Kandolin	2:53:17	Jackson, WY
50 – 54	Betsy Spiegel	3:20:18	Salt Lake City, UT
55 – 59	Barbara Peterson	3:31:00	Berkeley, CA
60 – 64	Cindi Toepel	3:26:30	Littleton, CO

XTERRA Mountain Champions (Male Age Groups)

Division	Name	Time	Hometown
15 – 19	McKay Hunt	2:38:51	Ogden, UT
20 – 24	Andrew Auer	2:32:04	Boulder, CO
25 – 29	*Alex Modestou	2:23:22	Washington DC
30 – 34	Matthew Balzer	2:28:55	Reno, NV
35 – 39	Bryce Phinney	2:26:58	Tucson, AZ
40 – 44	Glenn Mengering	2:31:58	Boulder, CO
45 – 49	Stephen White	2:31:37	Avon, CO
50 – 54	Michael Hagen	2:37:43	Colorado Springs, CO
55 – 59	Jeff Layman	2:57:09	Avon, CO
60 – 64	Jim Mitchell	3:00:50	Jackson, WY
65 – 69	Dennis Freeman	3:33:49	Phoenix, AZ
70 – 74	Ronald Scranton	4:31:44	Tijeras, NM
PC	Craig Vogtsberger	3:20:24	Traverse City, MI

* TOP AMATEURS

Complete results

The XTERRA Mountain Championship is the fourth of four regionals on the XTERRA America Tour, which features 70 races in 38 states from March thru August.  Next major is the XTERRA USA Championship at Snowbasin Resort near Ogden, Utah on September 21, followed by the XTERRA World Championship in Kapalua, Maui on October 27.

Source/photo credits: xterraplanet.com