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Mieko guns for third XTERRA Japan win
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Posted on Aug 24 2011
CNMI triathlete Mieko Carey left Saipan yesterday morning to defend her XTERRA Japan women’s title this weekend.
Carey, who won XTERRA Japan for two straight years (2009 and 2010), will be competing in the 1.2-kilometer swim, 25-km mountain bike race, and 10-km run off-road triathlon event this Saturday in Marunuma, Gunma Prefecture. She maybe the favorite in the women’s division, but Carey expects to face a tough challenge from a Japanese pro.
“I will race against another Japanese pro. She came here in 2005 and 2006 for XTERRA and placed fourth. She was the top Japanese finisher in XTERRA Saipan. I have never raced against her so it will be a difficult one. She will definitely push me,” the 33-year-old athlete said.
Carey was referring to Mami Saito of Kawasaki, Japan. In 2005, she came in fourth behind Renata Bucher, Jamie Whitmore, and Ingrid Rolles. The next year, the Japanese pro also finished fourth behind Bucher, Whitmore, and Monique Sawichi.
Despite facing a big threat from Saito, Carey is still confident about her chances in the 2011 edition of XTERRA Japan.
“I am not nervous, as I have trained hard and I just want to do my best in the race. I know that if I focus on my race, I will be smiling at the finish line,” Carey said.
She trained for XTERRA Japan for about two months, working out with fellow triathlete Lewie Tenorio two to three times a week.
“He has been pushing me so hard and with that I feel like I am ready for the race,” said the 2010 Micronesian Games gold medalist, who would like to thank IT&E, Brabu, Bike Pro, Salomon, Suunto and Zoot, and her Saipan supporters.
When she competes in this weekend’s race, Carey is hoping for a much better weather. It rained hard in Marunuma last year when the CNMI bet was about to reach the bike-run-transition area. In the last leg of the race, Carey had to run while it rained heavily and lighting struck on several occasions.
The two-time XTERRA Japan champion went on to finish the 2010 race in three hours and three minutes, just more than two minutes behind her 2009 time of 3:00:16.
