Previous Story
Vine to return to XTERRA Saipan after 7 years
|
Posted on Apr 10 2009
Canadian pro Mike Vine will be returning to the 2009 XTERRA Saipan Championship for the first time since winning the inaugural event seven years ago.
Vine is expected to arrive on Monday in time for the event slated on April 18.
He will be competing against a strong field of pro triathletes that includes Sam Gardner and Jim McConnel of Great Britain, Andrew Noble of Australia, Takahiro Osagawara and Taro Shirato of Japan.
Vine won the 2008 U.S. XTERRA Championships last year.
Noble is a former World Duathlon champion and has won XTERRA Saipan in 2008.
Ogasawara and Shirato are currently the toughest racers in Japan with the former winning in stride the recent Jazy Cup ITT and Road Race events last month.
Gardner just came off from a successful stint in Guam where he took the crown there that duplicated his win in the XTERRA Japan series.
The local XTERRA race, which will be co-sponsored by MARPAC, is the centerpiece event for the annual Saipan Sportfest, which is set to start April 15 with several activities including the XTERRA University right on the first day.
The XTERRA University will be followed by the Sunset Trail run (5k and 10k) on April 17 (Friday) at 5pm at American Memorial Park.
The XTERRA Saipan Championship and XTERRA Sport will be Saturday April 18.
There will be also the XTERRA Kids Bike Race on race day at the XTERRA Compound.
The Tagaman Triathlon will begin at the Pacific Islands Club beach at 6am a week later on April 25 with the finish line at Micro Beach.
