Faster Peter hits target in XTERRA

For the second straight time, Peter Prestley emerged as the fastest Saipan finisher in XTERRA World Championship, completing last Sunday’s race (Monday on Saipan) in Hawaii under the four-hour mark.

Prestley finished the 1.5-kilometer swim, 30K bike, and 10K run in 3:52:52 to meet his target, which was to go under four hours and surpass the 4:06:46 he registered during her XTERRA World debut last year.

Peter Prestley, left, and Kimiko Hasegawa-McKagan smiles after competing the 2014 XTERRA World Championship in Hawaii yesterday. (Xterra World)

“14 minutes faster than last year. Big waves during the swim, 2 wipeouts on the bike banking tight turns with a bad fork, but a nice breeze on the run. Time for a burger and a beer!,” Prestley said on his Facebook post yesterday.

Prestley, who placed ahead of Butch Sublemente (4:23:55) and Lewie Tenorio (4:12:05) in last year’s race, submitted 29:06 in the swim leg in the waters of D.T. Fleming Beach, 2:13:32 in the bike race, and 1:05:19 in the run part. He was the No. 41 finisher out of the 71 in his age group (40 to 44) and came in at No. 320 overall (among 659 finishers) and N0. 281 in the male division.

Meanwhile, the three debuting Saipan representatives to the annual off-road race also made it to the finish line.

Kaity Mattos was the second best Saipan finisher in Hawaii with her 4:29:46. She had spit times of 36:01, 2:36:14, and 1:11:13 to place at No. 15 (out of 23 participants) in the women’s 25 to 29 age group. Mattos was the No. 496 finisher overall and No. 113 in the women’s field.

Kimiko Hasegawa-McKagan reached the finish line less than a minute after Mattos completed the race, as the former recorded 4:30:11. Surprisingly, Hasegawa-McKagan had respectable time in the dreaded swim leg after tallying 40:39, while she logged 2:34:10 and 1:09:47 in the last two legs. Hasegawa-McKagan entered the women’s 45 to 49 age group and was ranked No. 16 (out of 29) in the division, No. 117 in the female category, and No. 501 overall.

Eric Cooke also finished XTERRA World under the five-hour mark with his 4:59:34. He joined the men’s 25 to 29 age group and posted split times of 34:36, 2:52:04, and 1:26:15. He placed No. 576 overall and 432 in the men’s field.

Spain’s Ruben Rusafa made it back-to-back in the men’s division after recording an event’s best 2:29:57. He prevailed over XTERRA Saipan champion Ben Allen and Hugo, who settled for third and fourth, respectively after timing in at 2:34:51 and 2:36:39. Josiah Middaugh (2:31:12) and Mauricio Mendez (2:38:55) completed the Top 5.

In the women’s field, Flora Duffy took the championship after logging 2:48:00 and beating Barbara Riveros (2:50:05) and deposed champion Nicky Samuels (2:56:32). Emma Garrard (2:56:55) and Helena Erbenova (2:57:57) rounded out the Top 5.