Joseph Miller all set for XTerra World C’ships

THE COUNTRY’S lone off-road professional triathlete, Joseph Miller, believes he is ready to take on the world’s best triathletes in the XTerra World Championships in Maui, Hawaii on Nov. 1.
The 24-year-old Miller, who turned pro in 2014, said he is excited to be representing the country again in the world championships but knows he is up against formidable foes in the prestigious race.
“I expect tough competition because the old and new pro triathletes will be there during the race,” he said. “But I will do my best for sure.”
Miller has already competed in several international off-road triathlon events with the help of multi-titled Australian pro Ben Allen, who has also been his teammate since he shifted to the pro scene.
This will actually be the third time Miller will join the world championships. Last year, he placed 140th out of the 800 participants.
There were scary moments in Miller’s preparation for the big race as he suffered a shoulder rotator cuff injury while training. But he said all is well now despite being a bit late with his training.
“I rested for a while before I resumed my training, which I think helped me become stronger and improve my condition,” he said. ”I’m a bit behind my schedule that’s why I am doubling my training program for this race, which includes more trail rides.”
Miller is a multiple time Vaseline Men XTerra Philippines Filipino Elite champion. In his pro debut, Miller placed 61st in the Xterra Asia Pacific Championships in Jervis Bay, New South Wales, Australia but he bounced back strong by placing seventh overall during the Xterra Malaysia Championships held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Miller’s most recent feat was last September when he placed second to  the promising Kristiane Lim in the standard distance of the Paramount Tri Team Championship series 2015 held in Dumanjug town, southwest Cebu.
The world championship’s will offer a distance of 1.5-kilometer swim, 32k bike and 10.5k run in the pure off-road and rugged terrain of Maui, Hawaii.
There, Miller is expected to go up against Allen, who is a former Vaseline Men Xterra Philippines back-to-back champion, former Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines pro champion Courtney Atkinson, Brent Mcmahon of Canada and Bradley Weiss of South Africa, the reigning Vaseline Men Xterra Philippines champion.