Costa Rican triathlete Raquel Solís once again reached the top of the podium in Las Catalinas, earning another victory at the 2026 XTERRA Costa Rica. With this result, the national athlete has now claimed three consecutive titles in the Elite Women’s category of the off-road triathlon.

The main race took place on Sunday, August 23, in Las Catalinas, Guanacaste, as part of a three-day event that brought together national and international athletes across several disciplines. XTERRA confirmed that Solís and American athlete Sullivan Middaugh won the Elite Women’s and Men’s Full Distance categories respectively.

A third consecutive victory

Solís completed the Full Distance course in 2:52:42. American Suzie Snyder finished second in 2:56:33, while Germany’s Lorena Erl took third place with a time of 2:57:14.

The victory marks Solís’ third consecutive Full Distance title at Las Catalinas. She had already won the event in 2024 and 2025, establishing herself as the leading figure in the recent history of the women’s competition at XTERRA Costa Rica.

According to XTERRA, Solís took the lead from the opening swim and built an early advantage. Snyder managed to close the gap during the cycling section, but Solís regained ground during the run and ultimately maintained the lead to the finish.

A race combining swimming, mountain biking and trail running

The XTERRA Full Distance is an off-road triathlon that combines three disciplines: open-water swimming, mountain biking and trail running.

The 2026 event brought athletes through the natural surroundings of Las Catalinas, combining coastal waters with mountain-bike trails and running routes through the area’s tropical dry forest.

This format presents a different challenge from traditional road triathlon, requiring athletes to combine endurance in the water with technical cycling skills and the ability to handle uneven terrain during the final running section.

Strong international participation

The 2026 edition brought together nearly 1,000 athletes from 18 countries, according to XTERRA. The event also attracted several internationally recognized names from the world of triathlon and off-road racing.

Among them was British triathlete Alistair Brownlee, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, who returned to the XTERRA circuit and took part in the event in Las Catalinas.

American athletes Sullivan Middaugh, Porter Middaugh and Josiah Middaugh also competed, alongside Reed Legg and German athlete Sebastian Neef.

In the Elite Men’s category, Sullivan Middaugh claimed first place in 2:12:44. Reed Legg finished second, while Sebastian Neef completed the podium. Brownlee finished ninth.

XTERRA expands its presence in Guanacaste

The 2026 event went beyond triathlon. Over three days, Las Catalinas hosted trail-running races, open-water swimming events, youth competitions and activities for athletes across different categories.

One of the major additions was the first edition in Costa Rica of the XTERRA Americas Trail Run Championship. The continental championship included Trail Marathon and Half Trail Marathon races, with Costa Rican runners claiming several titles.

The event also provided qualifying opportunities for the XTERRA Trail Run World Championship.

Las Catalinas and the growth of off-road sports

XTERRA has established Las Catalinas as an important location for off-road endurance sports in Costa Rica. The area offers a combination of ocean, tropical dry forest and mountain trails within a relatively compact setting.

The 2026 edition further strengthened the event’s international profile, bringing together athletes from 18 countries and combining elite competition with races open to different age groups and experience levels.

A milestone for Costa Rican triathlon

Raquel Solís’ third consecutive victory reinforces her position as one of the leading figures in XTERRA Costa Rica.

Her wins in 2024, 2025 and 2026 have given her a perfect record in the Full Distance event since XTERRA returned to Las Catalinas. Her latest victory also highlights the growing presence of Costa Rican athletes in international off-road endurance competitions.

Sources

Information for this article was cross-checked with the official XTERRA race report and the official XTERRA Costa Rica event page, which provides the event information and 2026 results.