Kiwis victorious at Xterra World Champs

Elite New Zealand triathlete Bevan Docherty led the Kiwis home at the Xterra World Championships in Hawaii earlier today, finishing fifth in the men’s pro division of the ‘off road’ event that carried a prize purse of US$125,000.

The race also delivered a number of podiums for New Zealanders in age group racing, with Susie Wood (Nelson) winning the female 30-34 year age group and Monuque Avery (Rotorua) taking out the female 15-19 year age group.

There was a second placing for Carl Jones (Whakatane) in the male 15-19 age group and a third for Mike Gilbert (Tauranga) in the male 30-34 age group.

Racing was completed in typically hot and humid Maui conditions with a mountain bike leg to test even the most technical riders, with many falls and mechanical failures wrecking dreams and dashing hopes of a top finish.

Maui's XTERRA course was a classic point-to-point race covering 43km of unyielding terrain. Conditions change radically from year-to-year, diminishing the advantage to repeat competitors and perpetuating the course's stature as the most intimidating in the series. Competitors were not permitted to ride the course prior to the race getting underway, further leveling the playing field.

The race was something of a ‘cross training’ exercise for Docherty, the current world number three ranked triathlete. Docherty is expected to now head to Cancun in Mexico for the next round of the ITU BG World Cup this weekend.

XTERRA World Championship Results

1.5km rough water swim, 30km mountain bike, 11km trail run


Pro Men

1 Conrad Stoltz South Africa 02:40:54
2 Olivier Marceau France 02:42:05
3 Brian Smith USA 02:42:35
4 Chris Legh Australia 02:44:26
5 Bevan Docherty Taupo, NZ 02:44:54

Pro Women
1 Julie Dibens UK 03:01:24
2 Melanie McQuaid Canada 03:09:52
3 Jamie Whitmore USA 03:11:37

Plus NZers
Overall Name City Time Category placing
45 Mike Gilbert Tauranga, New Zealand 03:03:23 3rd M 30-34
51 Tim Wilding Taupo, New Zealand 03:06:27 35th M pro
73 Carl Jones Whakatane, NZ 03:13:44 2nd M 15-19
90 John Metzger Auckland, New Zealand 03:18:42 11th M 30-34
113 Patrick Harvey Auckland, New Zealand 03:24:18 14th M 35-39
121 Wayne Leighton Nelson, New Zealand 03:26:00 5th M 45-49
142 Gary Milbanke Nelson, New Zealand 03:31:30 22nd M 35-39
146 Susie Wood Nelson, New Zealand 03:31:54 1st F 30-34
154 Martin Ralph Auckland, New Zealand 03:34:11 26th M 35-39
159 Sonia Hill Rotorua, New Zealand 03:34:54 17th F pro
173 David McKenzie Auckland, New Zealand 03:38:19 19th M 40-44
187 Steve Webber New Plymouth, NZ 03:42:14 20th M 40-44
204 Andy Beard Mt Maunganui, NZ 03:46:31 9th M 15-19
213 Catherine Dunn Wellington, NZ 03:48:33 20th F pro
251 Monique Avery Rotorua, New Zealand 03:56:35 1st F 15-19
252 Sarah Anderson Wellington, NZ 03:56:42 5th F 30-34
266 Laura Smith Wellington, NZ 03:59:22 9th F 25-29
290 Jennifer Smith Westport, New Zealand 04:04:03 24th F pro
327 Jennifer Riley Hamilton, New Zealand 04:14:01 8th F 30-34
374 Louisa Cornwallis New Plymouth, NZ 04:31:27 10th F 30-34
425 Kate Meyer Clyde, New Zealand 05:00:23 17th F 25-29
DNF Josie Sinclair Auckland, New Zealand