Gardner, winner in the inaugural XTERRA Philippines held in Liloan, Cebu, crossed the finish line in 2:53:46.
“I felt really tired at the finish line,” Gardner told Variety.
He said he was struggling and feeling light headed during the race.
Asked how winning the 2011 XTERRA Saipan meant to him, Gardner said, “Last year, it was a satisfying victory as I was in great form. This year was more of a relief.”
Prior to the race, he told Variety that Japan’s Takahiro Ogasawara would be a tough competitor.
He said he had seven minutes ahead of Ogasawara at the end of the bike stage. But Ogasawahara faded and finished with the fifth fastest time behind Gardner, Vanlandingham, Wasle, and Bucher.
Japan’s Paul Chetwynd and UK’s Daz Parker finished third and fourth respectively.
Meanwhile, although he admitted he was slower this year compared to his performance last year, Gardner also pointed out that the course was longer this year.
In the women’s division, Vanlandingham is no doubt the more dominant female triathlete of the season. From winning XTERRA World, she kept the momentum going with victories in the Philippines and Saipan, dethroning six-time Saipan champion Bucher in the process.
Vandlandingham posted the second fastest time of the race, eight minutes behind men’s champion Gardner, in 3:01:09.
Austria’s Carina Wasle crossed the finish line ahead of Bucher in 3:06:33 with the Swiss champion coming two minutes later in 3:08:10.
Moreover, Saipan’s best bet Mieko Carey, back-to-back XTERRA Japan winner, finished the race in 3:30:37.
On Saturday morning, the crowd waited in bated breath as Gardner, Vanlandingham, Wasle, and Bucher crossed the finish line.
Gardner arrived at 9:28 a.m. followed by Vanlandingham, 9:36 a.m.; Wasle, 9:41 a.m.; and Bucher, 9:43 a.m.
On his facebook wall, Gardner expressed his elation over winning the race. “[I] Won Xterra Saipan earlier, and dedicated it to the tsunami victims.
All a bit flat because of the bigger news in this area. Tsunami was supposed to hit us at 7:01 p.m. last night but we were lucky. Very weird waves today in the swim.”
On Saturday’s Tagaman race, Gardner will once again try to defend his title. Gardner topped the race in 2010 with Canada’s Mike Vine and UK’s Michael Hiscott second and third consecutively.
In the women’s division, South Korea’s Dan Bi Hong surprised a tough field composed of Vanldingham, Bucher, and Carey.
