Flora Duffy completed her absolute domination of off-road triathlon in the United States by romping to victory in the Xterra USA Championships in Ogden, Utah, on Saturday.

The 26-year-old Bermudian was the first woman out of the water and hardly gave her competition a look-in, breaking the tape in 2hr 38min 18sec.

“As an athlete, it is so meaningful to set a goal, execute and accomplish it,” an elated Duffy said on her Twitter feed before going on to praise her coach, Neal Anderson. “Thanks to coach my silent adviser for the support and guidance. Looking forward to Maui [for the World Championships next month].”

All Duffy required on Saturday was a top-four finish to lift the US Pro Series title, but the two-times Olympian left nothing to chance. This despite encountering a high-profile field for the 1.5-kilometre swim, 29km mountain bike and 10km trail run that included Lesley Paterson, the defending champion and two-times world champion from Scotland, who was making her first appearance at this level in 2014.

In Duffy, though, the 33-year-old San Diego resident met more than her match and did not figure as a genuine challenger after being placed among the lead group after the swim.

Duffy, who was the quickest woman out of the water, and third overall, in 22:01 and fastest on the bike in 1:31:46, had built a 5½-minute lead by the first mile of the run.

This ensured that her road to victory went much the way of the championships in Las Vegas (West), Pelham, Alabama (Southeast) and Richmond, Virginia (East) — all wide-margin victories to an athlete who in the past year has taken to this form of triathlon like a duck to water.

Her run time of 52:55 was second-best in the women’s field, slower only than Barbara Riveros, the runner-up from Chile. Riveros, who like Paterson was among five in the professional women’s field who had not appeared on the US Pro Series this year, finished more than six minutes behind Duffy in 2:44:28, with Paterson third in 2:46:24.

“It was a lot of fun, but it was hard,” Duffy added. “I never felt particularly stressed with my breathing, but my legs were shot.

“I was intimidated by this course, but apparently it suits me. The water was warm, but swimming at altitude is hard. I was ‘redlining’ the entire swim trying to stay on feet.”

Duffy, who finished third at the Xterra World Championships last year, said that the pro series title was just the first part of the plan.

“After Las Vegas in April, I made it a goal of mine to win the series, so it’s pretty cool to do that,” she said. “Now it’s time to get to work and be faster for Maui.”

Riveros, who was not even sure if she would make the starting line after crashing at the ITU Grand Final in Edmonton three weeks ago, flatted towards the end of the bike and came into transition in third, but was able to chase down Paterson for second.

“I heard I was 53 seconds back halfway through the last downhill when I got a flat,” said Riveros, who was second last year, too. “I hit a rock but my tire didn’t explode for a while. I was happy to make it out OK.”

For Paterson, who had been sidelined all season with injury, just getting back into the mix was a win. “It feels awesome, so much fun just to be out there with those girls, they’re awesome and we were giving each other shouts out there,” the Scot said.

“I was bummed Barbara got a puncture on the bike but on the run she ran past me like I was standing still, so I guess it all worked out.”

Duffy noted that the previous exploits of Paterson had served as motivation as she began serving an apprenticeship in Xterra racing that was launched with victory in South Africa in January.

“It was great to see Lesley back racing and up here on the podium,” Duffy said at the awards ceremony. “She’s an athlete I really respect and someone I think who single-handedly raised the bar for Xterra racing on the women’s side.

“It’ll be exciting to watch her comeback and I hope to have many more battles with her in the future.”

The men’s race was won by Spain’s Rubén Ruzafa in 2:21:47. The Málaga native was a perfect seven for seven on the European circuit this season and backed that up with a performance that overturned his third-placed finish behind Leo Chacon and Josiah Middaugh.

Second place went to Middaugh in 2:22:43, which was good enough to win for him a second successive US Pro Series title. Dan Hugo, Duffy’s South African boyfriend, was fifth in 2:32:06.