Why it matters: New Zealand athletes Samantha Kingsford and Sam Osborne emerged victorious in the first-ever XTERRA Dunsborough off-road triathlon elite titles in Western Australia, showcasing their exceptional skills and talents in the rugged terrain.
Setting the pace: Samantha Kingsford and Sam Osborne from New Zealand have won the elite titles at the inaugural XTERRA Dunsborough off-road triathlon in Western Australia on Sunday, April 2, 2023. The race featured a 1.5-kilometer swim through Geographe Bay's turquoise waters, a two-lap, 28km mountain bike through the Meelup Regional Park's singletrack, and a 10km trail run along the sculptured granite coastline.
What they are saying:
- Samantha Kingsford, the women's elite champion, expressed her joy at winning the race, praising the beautiful course and her first victory of the year.
- Local favorite Kristen Gardner, who finished second in the women's race, shared her delight with her performance and the breathtaking course.
- Sam Osborne, the men's elite champion, called the race a "banger," praising the course's difficulty and sharing his unique encounter with a kangaroo.
- Second-place finisher Allen exclaimed that XTERRA Dunsborough is the "sickest" XTERRA race on the planet and was thrilled to showcase the beautiful area to the world.
By the numbers:
- Samantha Kingsford won her ninth career XTERRA World Tour title.
- Sam Osborne earned his 21st XTERRA World Tour win.
- Kingsford completed the women's race in 2:52:33.
- Osborne won the men's race with a time of 2:26:20, over three minutes ahead of second-place finisher Allen.
Between transition: XTERRA Dunsborough was the third of six stops on the 2023 XTERRA Asia-Pacific Tour, with the elite racers competing for their share of the $340,000 in prize money in seven stops on the all-new XTERRA World Cup. The Dunsborough area boasts a stunning landscape of vast oceans, spectacular coastlines, wildflower-lined running tracks, and an extensive network of mountain bike trails.
Men's Results
| Pos | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sam OSBORNE (#1) | 02:26:20.97 |
| 2 | Ben ALLEN (#3) | 02:30:05.68 |
| 3 | Tyla WINDHAM (#4) | 02:33:16.34 |
Women's Results
| Pos | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samantha KINGSFORD (#10) | 02:52:33.21 |
| 2 | Kristen GARDNER (#12) | 03:05:36.89 |
| 3 | Jessica KIEKEBOSCH-FITT (#45) | 03:35:12.35 |
