Lesley Paterson (GBR), Conrad Stoltz (RSA) claim 2012 ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships
Created On: 23 May 2012
Great Britain's Lesley Paterson and South Africa's Conrad Stoltz
were crowned 2012 ITU Cross Triathlon World Champions at
the Shelby County ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships
& XTERRA Southeast Championship in Alabama this weekend.
Elite Women's Review
Great Britain's Lesley Paterson came from behind with
a late surge and passed Melanie McQuaid (CAN) in the
final lap of the run to win gold and her first ITU world
title. McQuaid, the defending champion who led for much of
the race, took silver and Carla Van Huysteen (RSA),
bronze.
"I feel great. Training has gone well, prep went well," said
Paterson. "I was feeling energised and ready to rumble.
Everything went to plan really. I had a little mechanical on the
bike. My chain came off. Everything else went pretty
smooth."
As the afternoon heat descended upon the women, they entered the
water with McQuaid leading the first pack after lap 1. By the
second lap, South Africa's Van Huyssteen had overtaken the lead
heading into T2 with Michelle Flipo (MEX), Suzie
Snyder (USA), McQuaid, and Paterson, following close
behind. Shortly into the first lap of the bike, McQuaid moved
ahead and built a significant lead which put her more than two
minutes ahead of her contenders by the third lap of the bike.
Van Huyssteen, Snyder and Paterson remained in the second group
behind McQuaid on the bike course heading into the run.
The tide began to turn on the run when Paterson got in stride
and inched to 23 seconds off leader McQuaid in the first lap,
creating a large margin between her and the second pack which
included Van Huyssteen, Snyder and Shonny Vanlandingham.
Moving well into the second lap, Paterson shot past McQuaid and
never looked back to claim her first ITU World
Championship
Shelby County ITU Cross Triathlon World
Championships and XTERRA Southeast Championship - 20 May
2012
Final Results - Elite Women
1.5km swim, 30km mountain bike, 10km trail
run
1 Paterson, Lesley (GBR) 02:24:39
2 McQuaid, Melanie (CAN) 02:27:15
3 Van Huysteen, Carla (RSA) 02:28:34
4 Snyder, Suzanne (USA) 02:29:14
5 Vanlandingham, Shonny (USA) 02:29:15
6 Kabush, Danelle (CAN) 02:33:03
7 Flipo, Michelle (MEX) 02:33:14
8 Vaughan, Shae (USA) 02:33:27
9 Heisterman, Brandi (CAN) 02:33:50
10 Bucher, Renata (SUI) 02:34:56
Elite Men's Review
South Africa's Conrad Stoltz stormed through the bike
and run to win the ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships in
Shelby County, Alabama. Craig Evans of the USA finished a
strong race for silver and Christopher Legh of Australia,
took home the bronze. This is Stoltz's second consecutive ITU
Cross Triathlon World Championship win after he took the inaugural
title in Spain last year, as well as his sixth consecutive XTERRA
win on the Shelby County course.
"I am really really proud, " said Stoltz. "It is something
to achieve so I am really proud to do this for my country."
The sun was at full strength as the men entered the water for
the 1.5km swim. Richard Stannard (GBR) took a lead
in the first lap and carried through heading into T2 with a strong
field of contenders behind him in a tight second pack. Sergio
Sarmiento (MEX), Leandro
Lobo (VEN), Jean-Phillipe Thibodeau (CAN)
and Sean Bechtel (CAN) hung on to their positions heading
into T2 with Stoltz coming out of the water at just over a minute
behind the leader. After the first bike leg, Stoltz had not
only catapulted up the ranks but was in a close battle with Craig
Evans (USA) for first place.
"I didn't realise I was making gaps as big as that on the bike,"
said Stoltz. "Normally I really wouldn't consider this my course
because I am so tall. I don't see myself as the king of
corners."
Stoltz continued to gain momentum on the bike and drove more of
a time wedge between he and the ensuing pack, consisting of Evans,
Stannard, Branden Rakita (USA), Bechtal and Legh.
Heading in to the run, Stoltz remained a minute ahead of the
pack.
On lap 1 of the run, Stoltz remained strong with Evans coming up
the rear. A possible setback arose for Legh as he was called
in the penalty box on a helmet violation while Rakita
and Josiah Middaugh (USA) moved closer to narrowing the
gap to third position. Coming through on the stretch with a
30-second lead, Stoltz powered his way to victory.
Shelby County ITU Cross Triathlon World
Championships and XTERRA Southeast Championship - 20 May
2012
Final Results - Elite Men
1.5km swim, 30km mountain bike, 10km trail
run
1 Stoltz, Conrad (RSA) 02:12:11
2 Evans, Craig (USA) 02:12:58
3 Legh, Christopher (AUS) 02:14:11
4 Middaugh, Josiah (USA) 02:15:47
5 Stannard, Richard (GBR) 02:16:10
6 Kelsay, Will (USA) 02:16:17
7 Guest, Kelly (CAN) 02:16:33
8 Henestrosa, David (ESP) 02:17:28
9 Rakita, Branden (USA) 02:18:39
10 Waite, Cody (USA) 02:20:32
Photo: Kevin Cox/Getty Images for ITU
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