Saipan’s queen returns for fourth title

Triathletes from all around the globe are putting the final touches on their multisport training regimens for the 2005 XTERRA Saipan Championships in hopes of crossing the finish line at American Memorial Park faster than the competition or achieving a new personal record, but for three-time champion Jamie Whitmore, the goal is simple—to repeat.

After three years of coming up second to rival Melanie McQuaid in the XTERRA World Championship in Maui, Whitmore was finally able to break through in 2004 when she passed McQuaid on the run course to take the lead and never looked back.

“It feels great to finally accomplish what I have been trying to do for the past three years. I set a goal to win Worlds, and each year I tried to achieve that goal. When I crossed the finish line last year, it was a feeling of accomplishing something that has escaped my grasp three years in a row. At first it was hard for me to comprehend. I was numb and in disbelief but then it all set in and I was on cloud nine,” said Whitmore.

There were no plans of hanging up the trail shoes after achieving her goal of winning the Maui race, as Whitmore went back to the drawing board with a slightly different goal for the 2005 season.

“Each year the slate is wiped clean and we start all over. This year I have very similar goals as last year—I want to go out and defend my titles. At the same time I am out there enjoying what I do for a living. I am thankful to have the opportunity to have friends around the world.”

In all three of the races on the Commonwealth’s capital, Whitmore has endured the hills, rocks, and wildlife better than her peers to take the tape after the beach run. While she won’t comment about her prospects for repeating in the upcoming race, Whitmore’s success has been aided by her desire to compete at her best, as she shared her pre-race focus prior to every event.

“Anything can happen in a race so I try not to think about what my chances are. I like to go into each race hoping to do my best. If my best is second then I am happy with that.

In addition to the search for her fourth Saipan title, Whitmore is aiming for another Pacific Islands Club double crown by sticking around to do Tagaman Triathlon once again this year.

“I love having an excuse to remain on the island of Saipan. The weather is great, the people treat us like family and the PIC is one happenin’ hotel. There is plenty to do between races, and each year I try to see something new. Last year we went to Tinian and that was an adventure as we were lost in the jungle and attacked by Boonie Bees. Who knows what we will see and do this year.”

The off-road maven made no secret about her preference of her mountain bike over the road machine, but she ceded that she enjoys the unique locally based Tagaman race in part because of the added TLC given by the volunteers.

“Tagaman has some amazing aid stations. All year long we bragged about how great the aids stations at the Tagaman race were!”

Before the fanfare, the corporate sponsors, and endorsement deals, Whitmore was a Criminology major at California State University at Northridge on a cross-country and track and field scholarship when she decided, “I don’t want to get a job. I want to be a triathlete.”

Though the Elk Grove, California native has enjoyed many successes in her young career, she is the first to admit that nothing comes easy, and that a little optimism can take an athlete a long way.

“There are always obstacles to overcome. It seems like each year something happens that can set you back, and this year is no different. The secret is not telling anyone what the obstacles are— then the competition thinks you are 100 percent. Besides I try to think positively and hope for the best.

While touring the pro circuit, Whitmore finds ways to give back to the communities in which she competes. She often speaks to youth groups and elementary schools about nutrition, triathlons and mountain biking, as she did last year on a trip to the Saipan International School.

She also hosted a clinic entitled “Performing Your Best” following her victory last year on Saipan at the Joeten Kiyu Public Library, where she explained the importance of health and exercise to the diverse crowd, Whitmore will be doing more of the same this time out as well, but the venue has moved to the Napu room of the PIC.

The back-to-back-to-back XTERRA Saipan winner said that anyone interested in getting involved with multi-sports should go for it. This year Whitmore’s father Biff is getting into the act, as the 57-year-old is going to do his first triathlon ever.

“We made a bet last year, that if I won world’s he had to compete in any XTERRA race of his choice. Of course he picked Saipan. If he can go out and start swimming, biking, and running at the age of 57, then anyone can get off the couch and be active.”

According to Whitmore, the appeal of multi-sport is rooted in the athlete’s ability to capitalize on their strengths based upon how they feel during any given training session or race, and not getting stuck in the doldrums of repetition.

“I think multi-sports are great because if you don’t feel like swimming, you have two other disciplines to fall back on that day—it’s nice to have the option of three different things to do. When you are in a single sport, that is what you are stuck with day in and day out. It is nice to be able to change it up.”