Sara Pérez Sala dominates the Xiamen Challenge 2025
The Spanish Sara Perez Sala has won the Challenge Xiamen 2025 with authority, delivering an impeccable performance on the Chinese coast with a final time of 3:53:31.
Sara Pérez Sala dominates Challenge Xiamen with a display of strength
El Challenge Xiamen 2025, held this Saturday November 1th en Tong'an Bay (China), crowned Sara Pérez Sala as champion after dominating from start to finish a race marked by heat, humidity and the speed of the course.
The Spanish triathlete completed the 1,9 km of swimming, 90 km of cycling y 21,1km run en 3:53:31, finishing more than eleven minutes ahead of the New Zealander Amelia Watkinson (4:04:32) and in almost sixteen Australian style Chloe Hartnett (4:09:46).
A perfect morning on the Chinese coast
The day dawned with clear skies and some 21 ° C in Tong'an Bay, an ideal setting for the spectacle.
Without neoprene for professionals, Perez Hall She came out of the water in second position, just three seconds behind the Australian. Mikayla Messer, who signed a record of 23:54, similar to that of the best men. Behind, alani siffert y Hartnett They were already losing more than two minutes in the first transition.
As soon as I got on the bike, Sara Perez She took the lead. By the first kilometer 30 mark, she was already more than six minutes ahead of her pursuers, extending the gap to 10 minutes upon arrival at T2.
His steady, powerful pace allowed him to ride alone for the 90 km cycling section, divided into three 30 km laps on perfect asphalt completely closed to traffic.
Superior from start to finish
The Catalan woman—disciple of Pablo Dapena— She didn't let up in the final half marathon. Despite having a comfortable lead, she maintained the fastest running split, even after a brief pit stop, demonstrating that she's going through one of the best periods of her career.
He crossed the finish line with a margin of more than eleven minutes over Watkinson and more than fifteen about Hartnett, sealing one of the most resounding victories of the year on the circuit Challenge Family.
After the race, Sara Pérez Sala He acknowledged his happiness:
Storch dominates among men
In the men's race, the victory went to the Australian kieran storch with a time of 3:37:33followed by the Serbian Ognjen Stojanović (3:39:23) and the British Ollie Turner (3:41:19).
Nicholas Free led the swimming leg (23:35) alongside Turner, Stojanovic y Sam OsborneBut during cycling stork and the Swiss Jonathan Guisolan They narrowed the gap until they caught up with the leading group on the last lap.
In the race on foot, stork He set his pace from the start and rode solo to the finish line, achieving his second win of the year after Challenge Taiwan.
A dream season finale
The victory in Xiamen This represents a new impetus for Sara Pérez Sala, who will arrive with morale to the T100 Circuit Grand Final in Qatar.
In recent weeks, the Spanish player has experienced a spectacular stretch of the season: podium finish at T100 in Wollongongparticipation in the Susana Rodríguez Gacio's seventh world title as a guide and return to Top 25 of the ranking PTO.
A season finale that confirms his status as an international benchmark in middle distance running.
Challenge Xiamen 2025 Results
Female category
- Sara Perez Sala (ESP) - 3: 53: 31
- Amelia Watkinson (NZL) - 4: 04: 32
- Chloe Hartnett (AUS) - 4: 09: 46
- Alanis Siffert (SUI) - 4: 10: 55
- Mikayla Messer (AUS) - 4: 12: 14
Male category
- Kieran Storch (AUS) - 3: 37: 33
- Ognjen Stojanović (SRB) - 3: 39: 23
- Ollie Turner (GBR) - 3: 41: 19
- Jonathan Guisolan (SUI) - 3: 42: 01
- Sam Osborne (NZL) - 3: 43: 09
With this victory in China, Sara Pérez Sala She reaffirms her status as one of the best Spanish middle-distance triathletes, closing a remarkable season before her next major international event.
