Local athletes Natalie Lehto and Lyndsay Hupka have each qualified for the Xterra World Championships in Maui. Said to be the world’s premier off-road triathlon, both woman qualified in Thunder Bay on August 27th at Xterra Sleeping Giant event where they finished 3rd and 4th overall in the women’s field. Earlier this summer Hupka and Lehto competed in and off road Triathlon in Monticello, Minnesota with Hupka finishing 1st and Lehto 2nd.
They will each have their work cut out for them at the World Championships where the events include a 1.5 km rough water swim, 32 km bike ride that will climb 2,800 feet, and finish with a 10.5 km trail run. A field of 800 athletes from 28 countries and 42 U.S. states including professional and amateur athletes will be competing in Maui.
The televised event will take place October 23rd.