Melanie McQuaid Wins Inaugural ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships

Canada’s Melanie McQuaid Wins Inaugural ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships

—Christine Jeffrey narrowly misses podium in fourth spot—



EXTREMADURA, Spain —The mud splattered across Melanie McQuaid’s face couldn’t mask her beaming smile as she broke the ribbon at the finish line to win the first-ever ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships in Extremadura, Spain on Saturday.

Forced to use a borrowed bike after hers was stolen while travelling en route to Spain for the inaugural Cross Triathlon World Championships, which combines a one kilometer swim, a 20-kilometre mountain bike course and a six-kilometre cross-country run, Victoria’s McQuaid surged to the lead on her loaned set of wheels and never looked back completing the course in a time of one hour, 43 minutes, two seconds (1:43.02).

“Things certainly didn’t seem to be going as planned before I got across the finish line as I dealt with a number of setbacks, but I was very grateful to have a generous woman from the US teamloan me her
bike, and very proud to own the first ITU world title for cross triathlon,” said McQuaid, who was anxious to toe the line for the first World Championship after having been in the offroad discipline of
the sport for several years. “This race has to be my best ever given how much negativity I managed to just put in my pocket and focus on what I could control and remain positive.”

In addition to losing her bike, McQuaid also had to overcome a challenging swim when her cap flew off in the first 20 seconds preventing her from sighting the buoys with hair covering her eyes, and dealing with a 15 second penalty heading into the run because one of her shoes fell out of the pedal in the transition on her borrowed equipment.

“It was a bit of a comedy act of things going wrong until the ultimate thing went right – me finishing first,” said McQuaid. “All-in-all, it was a very exciting race format and an amazing experience. It was a super cool event, and I look forward to future ITU races.”

Joining Canada’s 37-year-old three-time Xterra World Champion on the podium was Shonny Vanlandingham, of the United States, who captured the silver medal with a time of 1:43.25. Emma Garrard, also of the United
States, locked up third spot after posting a bronze-medal time of 1:43.43.

McQuaid’s teammate, and the only other Canadian entered in the field – Christine Jeffrey – also had a stellar debut at the Cross Triathlon World Championships. The Guelph, Ont. resident led the top-25 women representing 11 countries out of the water and into the first transition. Jeffrey’s held on for fourth spot after clocking-in at 1:45.22.

No Canadians were entered in the men’s race which was won by South Africa’s Conrad Stolz. The two-time Olympian set the time to beat at 1:26.40.

Canada’s Kate Button, of Stouffville, Ont., raced in the 25-29 age group category and finished fourth.

Triathlon Canada is the governing body for triathlon in the country. Recognized as anOlympic medal sport since 2000, Triathlon Canada’s mandate is to promote, foster, organize and develop the sport of triathlon, and its related disciplines, in Canada. For more information on Triathlon Canada, please visit us at www.triathloncanada.com on the Internet.