Laurie Orchard Competes In XTerra Iceman
Laurie Orchard made a return to off-road triathlon racing over the weekend, competing in the XTerra Iceman triathlon at Lake Pleasant, Arizona.
The race offered Xterra World Championship qualifying spaces for the top age-group athletes. With water temperatures at only 52F, windy and cool conditions, race organizers shortened the 750m swim and some athletes opted to compete in a duathlon [run-cycle-run] format instead.
Orchard completed the 500m swim, 20 km mountain bike and 6 km trail run in 1:36:45, finishing 25th overall. She was 5th place for the women and 1st in the 50-54 women’s age-group, earning a spot at the World Championships to be held in Trentino Italy on September 23, 2023. Orchard last competed in the Xterra World Championships in Maui, Hawaii in October 2016.
