Allen WIN’S her THIRD XTERRA New Zealand Title….

 

Jacqui Allen defended her title at the 16th annual XTERRA New Zealand Championship race in Rotorua on Saturday while her husband took it to the Kiwi’s but couldn’t hold them off finishing in fourth.

In the women’s race it was Jacqui Allen out front all day, but not by much.

“What a race. I had to bring my A game today,” said Allen. “I knew I needed an almost perfect race to be on the top step, so I swam and biked as hard as I could to get a lead going into the run. When your leading it’s hard to know what’s going on behind and how close the girls were but coming through the 2nd lap on the run I got a time split and had only 30 seconds, so I had to make sure I kept the pressure on through to the finish line.”

Behind Allen, Kiwi Samantha Kingsford and Hannah Wells were charging hard, but settled for second and third in the end.

“It was a wicked day out there and massive well done to all that raced,” said Allen, who won her third NZL title today (she picked up her first in 2012). “I love it here because the racing is close, and a small mistake could be very costly, so it makes for an exciting day. All in all, I’m super happy with where I’m at and looking forward to challenging for the top step in the next few XTERRA races.

 

In the men’s race, Ben lead out of the water with Sam and Hayden on his heels, it was a fight for the first trail on the bike and almost was a brawl to see who got there first. No love lost as Ben, muscled his way leading the race, before Sam saw an opening early and went after it establishing a gap and never looked back.  

Sam was all class today and showed he owns these trails, said Allen. He handled the hometown pressure and made the rest of us look silly today. Allen said, “No excuses, the Kiwi boys came out and handled business and show me how you ride in Rotorua.”

XTERRA New Zealand was the first of four races on the 2018 XTERRA Asia-Pacific Tour. The next stop is in the Philippines for the one-day XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship race in Danao on April 22, followed by XTERRA Tahiti in Moorea on May 11, and concluding with XTERRA Albay (Philippines) on June 17.

Pic credit to @scottieTPhoto #ScottieTPhoto