XTERRA Scramblers Flood Malibu Creek

Nearly 600 Runners Hit the Trails, in Contention for XTERRA Supremacy

(Los Angeles) - Last weekend, two trail-running races through majestic Malibu Creek (one 4-miles, the other 14-miles) drew nearly 600 participants of all skill levels, with ages ranging from 10 to 78 years.  Although only few can claim being top finishers, everyone involved was a winner - especially the event's beneficiary, the Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Both courses directed runners through a bit of Hollywood history.  After a single-track incline, the short course descended onto "Cage Creek Trail" - where the cage scene from Planet of the Apes was filmed.  For the long course, athletes passed by old 'bombed out' jeeps and trucks from the historic set of television's M*A*S*H before they were 'presented' with the infamous Bulldog Climb -- 3 miles of up, up, up to 1800 feet of elevation.

In the men's 14-mile race, the battle was royally fierce; in the end it was Chris Foster (23) of Venice, CA who took the crown with a time of 1 hour and 30 minutes.  Finishing second at 1 hour and 33 minutes was local L.A. runner Thaddeus Reichley (31).  One minute behind was previous winner, also from L.A. Sal Bautista (22) in 1 hour and 34 minutes. 

In blazing speed, the top female finisher was Tina Eakin (35) from San Diego, who finished the 14-mile trek in 1 hour and 57 minutes.  She was followed by Rosalva Bonilla (43) of Big Bear, with a time of 2 hours and 5 minutes.  Third and fourth place was a mere 6 second gap: Allison Robar (38) of Cypress in a time of 2 hours, nine minutes and 25 seconds just nicked past Fay Nykerk (44) of Panorama City.

For the 4-mile race, the top three males finished in one-minute increments, starting with Joe Harkin (36) of L.A in 25 minutes.  Fifteen-year-old Eduardo Hernandz of Rowland Heights took second place in 26 minutes and Eric Wellmeyer (32) of Yorba Linda hit 27 minutes for third place.

The top three females in the 4-mile race were also separated by one-minute increments.  Bara Floyd (33) of L.A. was first with a time of 28 minutes, Tamara Reid (39) of Moorpark second with 29 minutes and Karli Kotullea (22) of Venice in 30 minutes.

The youngest competitor was 10-year old, Hannah Rae Finchamp of Altadena, who finished 29th overall and 10th female in the 4-mile race in a time of 31 minutes.

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