May 25, 2011 (Pelham, AL) – Sundog Active Sports Eyewear (ASE) Genuine Performer™ Melanie McQuaid won her third XTERRA championship of 2011 with an impressive victory at the XTERRA American Tour Southeast Championship.

The three-time XTERRA World Champion from Victoria, B.C., conquered the challenging Oak Mountain State Park course – 1.5 KM swim in Double Oaks Lake, 30 km mountain bike, and 10 Km trail run – for a comfortable 1 minute and 33 second win over American Shonny Vanlandingham.

Now leading the 2011 U.S. XTERRA Championship Tour, McQuaid captured her fourth USA National XTERRA Championships last year, plus the 2010 Canadian and European titles.

McQuaid won the XTERRA Southeast Championship wearing her custom made Sundog Eyewear ASE Mela-Lens™ Triathlon sunglasses that she helped design.

“The Southeast Championship is what an XTERRA event really should be,” said the new champion. “The Oak Mountain course is a very physical challenge where the fittest athlete will win if they have some technical skills. Thanks to Sundog Eyewear, and all my sponsors, for their support.”

McQuaid’s Sundog Eyewear Mela-Lens™ Triathlon sunglasses feature Sundog Eyewear’s breakthrough Mela-Lens™ technology. “Mela” is short for Melanin, a naturally produced pigment that acts as a sunscreen protecting the skin from ultraviolet light.

In partnership with BNL Sun Lenses, an Essilor company, Sundog Eyewear has created the Sundog Eyewear Mela-Lens™ lines utilizing synthetic melanin to produce state-of-the-art melanin lens technology. Mela-Lens™ absorbs light seamlessly over a broad spectral range providing 98 per cent blue light filtration and 100 per cent UVA/B protection. Mela-Lens™ features BNL Eurolens Eternity Hard Coat for superior abrasion resistance and is rated more abrasion resistant than competitive lenses. A more abrasion resistant lens wears less and ultimately provides better vision.

“The great thing about Sundog Eyewear is how they just keep getting better through innovation and attention to detail,” said McQuaid. “The Mela-Lens™ technology is flawless and still maintains the crystal clear vision that Sundog Eyewear provides. I love the Mela-Lens™ Triathlon model as it is light, durable, and provides reliable eye protection I look for when riding at high speed.”

Sundog Eyewear Mela-Lens™ sunglasses recently earned the Editor’s Choice Award in the UK from both Runner’s World and Running Fitness magazines in independent tests.

To learn more about Melanie McQuaid and to follow her blog visit here.