Pros overtake ams in XTERRA

HUNTSVILLE — Saturday morning, hundreds were on the shore of Pineview Reservoir. Clad in wetsuits and swimming caps, they were all waiting for one sound: a cannon blast signaling the start of the first phase XTERRA Mountain Championship. But the sound never came. The cannon malfunctioned, so a whistle rang out instead and the athletes dove into the water.

The multisport event began with a 1.5-kilometer swim in Pineview. At the end of the first lap, it was a Utah native who was in the lead for the women. Sarah Watchorn from Salt Lake City upset the professionals and was the first out of the water to begin the second leg. The first male in was also an amateur who came in just ahead of Seth Wealing.

The professionals soon overtook the amateurs, however: Melanie Mcquaid in first for the females and Wealing for the males. The athletes followed a mountain bike trail from Pineview to Snowbasin for the second leg.

This section was hard on the athletes. Both the reigning XTERRA Mountain champion Mike Vine and the current leader for the 2007 tour Conrad Stoltz dropped out because of flat tires, leaving Wealing with a large advantage in the run.

For the females, current tour leader Jamie Whitmore was able to catch Mcquaid by the end of the bike section. Although she lost some time in the transition and fell behind once more, Whitmore soon caught up to and passed Mcquaid in the run, finishing approximately two minutes in front.

"I just want to come out here and race my race," Whitmore said before the race.

In beating Mcquaid in what is one of the most intense high-adventure sports rivalries, Whitmore also defeated the 2006 Mountain Championship winner.

The XTERRA Mountain Championship was the fourth regional stop of the XTERRA American Tour. It was the final stop before the USA finals at Lake Tahoe. With the win, Whitmore has a clear shot at taking the final next month.

Even though American Tour leader Stoltz did not finish because of a flat tire, he could afford to drop the race and still contend for first at nationals next month.

As for the male winner, Wealing, he's pleased with the victory, the first region competition that he has won in his professional career.

"I've had more seconds than I can count," Wealing said. "I'm glad to finally have a first."