Mason, Ortlund XTERRA Champions at Chicopee Woods

Runners from six states flocked to the Elachee Nature Center yesterday for the fifth race in the XTERRA Georgia Trail Run Series. Over 200 athletes ranging in age from 15-68 lined up at the start for the XTERRA Chicopee Woods 10-kilometer Trail Run, and it was Holly Ortlund and Greg Mason who came out on top.

Mason, 28, broke the finish line tape in a blazing 36:33, and having won two previous races, is dominantly leading the XTERRA Georgia Series for his division. Almost two minutes behind the Kennesaw resident was Jeff Campbell, 38 from Marietta and Jason Veclotch from Tyrone clocking in at 42:25.

In the women's race, Decatur native Ortlund, 36, claimed her second consecutive win with her time of 45:32 with Kathleen Turchin of Sugar Hill just 43 seconds on her heels. Series regular Tara Mooney, 26, rounded out the top three in 47:59.

The 2009 XTERRA Georgia Trail Run Series has exploded in participation this year, and to keep up with this growing athlete demand, race director Tim Schroer recently added two more races to the 2009 season. Those ending the series with the highest totals will be crowned XTERRA Regional Champions and win free entry to the XTERRA Trail Running National Championship on September 13 in Bend, Oregon. From there, runners will go up against the world's best international field at the XTERRA Trail Running World Championship on December 6 on the spectacular Hawaiian island of Oahu.

COMING UP IN THE 2009 XTERRA GEORGIA TRAIL RUN SERIES…

XTERRA Deep South 15KM Trail Run - Jackson, GA - 6/7/2009
XTERRA Silver Comet 10KM Trail Run - Hiram, GA - 6/28/2009
XTERRA Pig 10KM Trail Run - Macon, GA - 7/26/2009
XTERRA Rock Hawk 5/21KM Trail Run - Eatonton, GA - 8/23/2009

© 2013 TEAM Unlimited LLC