Osborne races to history breaking Xterra Rotorua victory

The men's top podium, from left, second place Whakatane's Hayden Wilde, Rotorua's first placed Sam Osborne and Taupo's Kyle Smith in third. Photo/Stephen Barker/Marathon-Photos.com

Rotorua's Sam Osborne stormed home to become the first local man ever to win the pro title at the Radix Nutrition Xterra Rotorua Festival today.

Osborne powered to more than a three minute victory over Whakatane's Hayden Wilde in second and Taupo's Kyle Smith finished third while Rotorua's Olly Shaw came fifth.

Rotorua's Sam Osborne celebrates after winning the Radix Nutrition Xterra Rotorua Festival today. Photo/Stephen Barker/Marathon-Photos.com

For the past two years in a row Osborne had finished behind top kiwi multisport athlete Braden Currie of Wanaka, but the local athlete led from the bike section and his victory was in no doubt even before Currie pulled out during the final lap of Tikitapu (Blue Lake) in the trail running leg.

Despite being wary during the bike section Osborne managed to push ahead early on and never gave up his lead.

"I was amazed I got away on the first downhill, I just snuck away in a little gap. I wasn't too keen to go away that early," he said. "I thought it was a little bit early in the ride so I rode almost waiting for them but they didn't get across before the next downhill... you don't just waste those opportunities so I decided to go for it. Obviously it was a good move.

With the win Osborne, 25, not only broke his runnerup curse but also became the first local male athlete to take home the top in the event's 15 year history.

"I have been wanting to win this race for so long, I remember watching this when Hamish Carter won this just after Athens - I thought that is pretty cool so to be the first local to win it in front of everybody here is wonderful," Osborne said.

In the women's field the UK's Jacqui Allen (formerly Slack) has a new last name after her recent marriage to fellow Xterra athlete Ben Allen, lived up to her former Xterra Rotorua glory beating Bay of Plenty based athlete Hannah Wells by over two minutes. Fellow kiwi Josie Wilcox finished third.

The UK's Jacqui Allen (formerly Slack) powering along the home straight at Xterra Rotorua. Photo/Stephen Barker/Marathon-Photos.com

Jacqui Allen said she was delighted with her result.

"This my favourite races on the Xterra circuit and the race today just confirms it. The swim was great in that beautiful clear blue water, that bike course is just insane and I absolutely love it. It's smooth, fast... and the run is fairly flat, twisty, with lots of turns and you can really run fast for me I felt great out there," she said.

The weekend's 15th Xterra Rotorua Festival had other events, including a
5.5km, 11km or 21km run and walk. In total close to 2000 participants took part across all events - over 230 of them locals.

-More to come

Radix Nutrition Xterra Rotorua pro long course podium:

Men: 1. Sam Osborne: 2h 06m 01s; 2. Hayden Wilde: 2h 09m 11s; 3. Kyle Smith: 2h 12m 09s.

Women: 1. Jacqui Allen: 2h 34m 58s; 2. Hannah Wells: 2h 37m 44s; 3. Josie Wilcox: 2h 41m 45s.