Xterra Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay, California
Sunday, August 19, 2001
1.5k swim, 27k bike, 8k run

Men
1. Conrad Stoltz 2:06:16
2. Kerry Classen 2:08:20
3. Mike Vine 2:09:43
4. Jimmy Riccitello 2:11:13
5. Mike Pigg 2:11:19
6. Ned Overend 2:12:43
7. Jimmy Archer 2:12:48
8. Bryan Rhodes 2:13:35
9. Pat Brown 2:13:50
10. Dave Harrison 2:14:18

Women
1. Anke Erlank 2:27:19
2. Melanie McQuaid 2:28:46
3. Raeleigh Tennant 2:32:39
4. Monique Merrill 2:35:02
5. Kerstin Weule 2:36:40
6. Jenny Tobin 2:36:44
7. Jody Mielke 2:36:47
8. Linda Gabor 2:38:52
9. Candy Angle 2:38:54
10. Cheri Touchette 2:39:05

The third of four National Championship events - Half Moon Bay, California was the location of the 2001 Nissan Xterra West Championship. Returning to Half Moon Bay for the third consecutive year, the full distance Xterra off-road triathlon race was again sold out. With over 400 athletes racing all up and down the coast - this no doubt was the most activity Half Moon Bay has seen since winter's big surf at Mavericks.

Last year's race day was very hot and sunny - today race day conditions were nearly perfect. Considerably cooler in the mid 60s, the overcast skies kept athletes very cool as they swam, mountain biked and ran to the Xterra finish line.

With the boom of a cannon, race director Janet Clark sent three waves of swimmers off to start of the 1.5K swim in the very chilly 52-degree waters of Pillar Point Marina. In the coldest Xterra waters this year and the only open ocean swim in the Xterra North America series, wetsuits were mandatory. In typical Xterra fashion athletes had to exit the water between laps and run approximately 25 yards around two flags before re-entering the water. As if things weren't hard enough, fighting back the numbness and ice cream headaches from the swim - competitors had to then run a 1/4mile up to the transition area.

First to emerge from the swim was California pro Kerry Classen (26) of Bakersfield. An ex Navy S.E.A.L. Classen felt right at home as the harbor seals watched with interest as he lead both laps of the swim. Hot on his heels was New Zealand pro Bryan Rhodes (33) who dug in deep to pass Classen on the run up to T1. Rhodes' hard work was rewarded as he was first to enter T1 in 20:55, followed by Classen in 20:57. Third to peel off his mandatory wetsuit was South African pro Conrad Stoltz (27) entering transition in 21:09. Canadian pro Mike Vine (27) was 11^th out of the water. French pro Nicolas Le Brun (27) was 31^st to exit the water.

Riding on yet another borrowed mountain bike, Stoltz made his move early on in the bike to catch Rhodes and Classen on this grueling 27-K mountain bike course. The killer combination of an icy swim followed immediately by a climb on the bike didn't seem to deter Stoltz in any fashion. Preferring Half Moon Bay's longer swim course, Stoltz needed no time to warm up from the swim as he went on to immediately catch Rhodes and Classen.

On the second loop, Stoltz had secured his spot in first with over a four-minute lead on the other competitors. At the start of the second lap, Classen was still in second behind Stoltz. Riders fought to make up some time within the first loop. Seemingly out of nowhere former Xterra World Champions Jimmy Riccitello (37) of Tucson and Mike Pigg (37) of Arcata, CA appeared on the scene. Riding with them was Vine and Le Brun. Another former Xterra World Champion was about seven minutes back climbing like a mountain goat. True to form, Pro Ned Overend (45) of Durango, Colorado was working from behind biking with legs like a locomotive forging his way up to the leaders. Rewarded for their hard work on the bike, Le Brun delivered the fastest time of the day in 1:17:56; Overend had the second best time in 1:19:28.

Stoltz commented - I was a bit worried about Vine and Le Brun on the bike but I ended up riding very good on the climbs and downhills.... even after my huge crash. I lost my Oakleys.... they are still up in the bushes some where.

Heading out on the start of the 8-K coastal trail run, Stoltz took off running like a man on fire well on his way to capture his first Xterra victory. Third into T2, Le Brun put the hammer down and passed Classen moments into the run to take second place. After running on the calf-burning sandy section, the athletes had to tackle the hilly Bluffs. At this stage the competitors were about half way into the run - it was Le Brun in second, Classen in third and Vine in fourth. Boulder pro Jimmy Archer (26) delivered the fastest run of the day in 24:42. Stoltz was second with 24:42 followed by Seath Wealing (22) of Indiana with 25:11.

Crossing the finish line in 1^st place for his first Xterra victory was Stoltz in 2:06:16. Le Brun was 2^nd across the finish line in 2:07:33 and Classen 3^rd in 2:08:20. Right with Classen was Vine in 4^th 10 seconds behind.

When asked about finally capturing his first Xterra win Stoltz stated, I really wanted to win an Xterra race this year. I am already committing to next year's season. I want to win the series.... I am here to stay! While Le Brun crossed the finish line in 2^nd place, he was later disqualified after it was determined that he did not follow a short section on the prescribed run course.

For the women racing Australian pro Raeleigh Tennant (32) led the swim exiting the water first followed by fellow Aussie Jody Mielke (29). However Boulder pro Elizabeth Anderson was first to make it up to T1 in 21:25. One minute back was Tennant 2^nd followed by Mielke in 3^rd. Hitting the transition area in 6^th place was Canadian pro Melanie McQuaid (26) in 24:41. 10^th was South African pro Anke Urlank (24) in 26:34.

As soon as she got on her new mountain bike, Erlank started to make the rounds. About 1 mile into the bike on the first loop of the climb Erlank was in 8^th place. By the time she hit the loop for the 2^nd time - she had worked herself up to 3^rd place riding behind leaders McQuaid and Tennant. By the time she reached the end of the 27k mountain bike leg she had caught all the riders and was now leading the women's race. While she was 56 out of the water, Erlank more than made up for her poor swim delivering the fastest bike time of the day in 1:31:33. McQuaid had the 2^nd best time in 1:34:19 followed by Colorado pro Monique Merrill in 1:35:56.

Erlank laughed when asked about her attach on the bike, I caught Melanie on the 2^nd lap on top of the climb and I imagined Lance Armstrong climbing and then I dropped her.

Heading out of the transition area to tackle the 8-K trail run Erlank held her lead and ran strong and fast. Erlank had the 3^rd fastest run of the day among the women. Working hard behind was McQuaid and Tennant who both tried in vain to catch the leader. True to form, Idaho pro Jenny Tobin (32), one of the fastest runners on the Xterra race circuit delivered the fastest run of the day in 27:53. Pro Candy Angle (31) of Massachusetts had the 2^nd fastest run in 28:35.

Erlank took 1^st place and won her 2^nd Xterra victory of the season in 2:27:19. McQuaid was a little over a minute behind in 2:28:46 for 2^nd followed by an ecstatic Tennant in 2:32:39 who took 3^rd place, one of her best Xterra finishes.

This Half Moon Bay win bumped Erlank up to 1^st place in the Nissan Xterra Point Series. She had the following to say on victory, With the longer swim I was not too comfortable going into this race. I just planned to take it step by step and adapt to whatever happens. She then further commented on fellow countryman and friend Stoltz's 1^st Xterra victory, ...so great! Conrad is like my brother. I am so happy for him!

Nissan Xterra Point Series Standings (after three events):

Men Women
1. Mike Vine 282 1. Anke Erlank 269
2. Conrad Stoltz 265 2. Kerstin Weule 249
3. Ned Overend 214 3. Monique Merrill 225
4. Nicolas Le Brun 172 4. Melanie McQuaid 209
5. Dave Harrison 161 5. Jody Mielke 207
6. Pat Brown 143 6. Cherri Touchette 171
7. Jimmy Archer 140 7. Katrin Tobin 162
8. Kerry Classen 139 8. Raeleigh Tennant 135
9. Justin Thomas 135 9. Cameron Randolph 127
10. Dave Bonetti 113 10. Lesley Tomlinson 103

2001 Xterra USA National Championship Series Schedule
Xterra Championship Races:

Xterra East Championship June 23-24 Richmond, VA

Xterra Central Championship July 28-29 Keystone, CO

Xterra West Championship August 18-19 Half Moon Bay, CA

Xterra USA Championship September 22-23 Lake Tahoe, NV