XTERRA 2018 World Championships, What a Day

October 28, 2018 (Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii) – Rom Akerson from Costa Rica and Lesley Paterson from Scotland captured the 23rd annual XTERRA World Championship off-road triathlon elite titles on a sunny but muddy day in Kapalua, Maui.
It’s the first XTERRA World title for Akerson and the third for Paterson, who last won in 2011 and 2012. Both earned $20,000 for their respective victories, their share of the $100,000 elite purse.
 
More than 700 endurance athletes from 44 countries and 39 U.S. states competed in the event, which started with a one-mile rough water swim at D.T. Fleming Beach, continued with a muddy 18.5-mile mountain bike ride that traversed the West Maui Mountains, and finished with a 6.5-mile trail run through forest trails and beach sand.
There was more than 4,000 feet of combined climbing on the technical bike and run courses, which were muddy and slippery due to recent rainstorms on Maui’s northwest coast.
 
On a very difficult and muddy course Colorado athletes made a great showing.
Josiah Middaugh of Vail, rounded out the Pro Men’s race with a 5th place finish and the only American in the top 10.
In the Pro Women’s race, Americans Suzie Snyder, Julie Baker and Allison Baca, of Boulder, all finished in the top 10.
Deanna McCurdy of Littleton and Sharon McDowell-Larsen or Colorado Springs topped the podium in their Age Groups.
 
Full Recap and results here