XTERRA Saipan - 24 qualify for XTERRA World

By Jon Perez
Reporter

http://www.saipantribune.com

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Great Britain's Jim McConell heads toward the finish line in the 6th XTERRA Saipan Championship. McConell was the top amateur in the 30-34 age division to earn a slot in the 2007 XTERRA World Championships in Makena, Maui, Hawaii. (Jacqueline Hernandez) Twenty-four amateur triathletes will join 16 pros in Makena, Maui, Hawaii after earning berths for the XTERRA World Championships on Oct. 28.

Of the 24, 11 represented Japan while eight came from the USA, with Guam and Saipan having three each. The other qualifiers are from the China, the Czech Republic, France, and Great Britain.

Leading the local charge is Mieko Carey, who was the top female amateur en route to winning the 25-29 age group.

Carey, who works as a Clubmate at the Pacific Islands Club, earned another trip to Maui after finishing the course in three hours, 33 minutes, and 10 seconds.

Joining her in Maui are age division winners Rachel Bandelin of Saipan (4:16:25) in the 30-34; Pennsylvania's Sueanne Clark (4:15:56) in the 35-39 division; and Susan Seay of Guam (4:01:22) in the 45-49.

Gary Mandy, who represented China, was the top male amateur finisher and won the 35-39 division with a time of 2:45:33.

Fifteen-year-old Hayato Katayama of Japan also earned a ticket to the XTERRA World Championships winning his age group with a time of 3:18:27.

Ryoichi Higashino of Japan (3:27:12) 20-24; the Czech Republic's Petr Vejvoda (3:01:35) 25-29; Great Britain's Jim McConell (2:45:33) 30-34; Guam's Art Guerrero (3:20:06) 40-44; Yoshiko Nishiyama (3:27:25) 45-49; Keiji Matsuba (3:11:52) 50-54; Saipan's Florian Braig (3:41:29) 55-59; and Ryuhei Yamada (4:14:47) 60-64 also qualified.

Also qualifying for Maui, but not age group winners, were Jonathan Lee-Warner, Courtney Cardenas, Masato Samata, Azuna Okamoto, Lewie Tenorio, Daniel Speight, Kimiko Hasegawa, Thierry Champoussin, Tetsuya Sugimori, and Paul Chetwynd.

Olivier Marceau and Renata Bucher won for Switzerland its third straight XTERRA Saipan title to pocket the $2,500 purse in the men and women's divisions.

Sam Gardner and Julie Dibens, both from Great Britain, won $2,000 each, while three-time XTERRA Saipan titlist and 2004 XTERRA World champion Jamie Whitmore placed third winning $1,600 apiece.

Fourth placers Thomas Richard of France and Switzerland's Sibylle Matter were awarded $1,250, while Estonia's Margus Tamm and Japan's Mami Saito won $950.

Kyosuke Takei and Yasuko Miyazaki earned $700 for finishing sixth, while Taro Shirato and Yukako Inoue won $500 for coming in seventh.

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