Dever, Tanner Finish First at XTERRA Tennessee Finale

(Morristown, TN) - Knoxville residents Tom Dever and Michelle Tanner traversed the treacherous trails of Panther Creek State Park to first place overall in the 2009 XTERRA Tennessee Trail Run Series finale this past Saturday.

Dever, 46, was able to lead the pack with his 10-kilometer time of 41:25 with Ray Jones, 38 of Greenville, right on his heels just a minute later.
Tanner, 28, clinched the women’s race in 56:43 while 44-year old Kathy Smith of Friendsville just missed out on the victory crossing the line in 58 minutes flat.

Weather was a huge concern according to race director Kevin Mahan. “After days of rain, the skies finally cleared on Friday to dry up the trails in time for everyone to enjoy one of East Tennessee’s finest state parks. We had a great time and are already looking forward to the XTERRA Haw Ridge Xduro that kicks off the 2010 season on October 11th in Oak Ridge.”

Top runners in Saturday’s event earned points toward their 2009 XTERRA Tennessee Trail Run Series totals. Since this was the season finale, points will be tallied so area runners can be crowned XTERRA Regional Champions and receive free entry to the XTERRA Trail Running National Championship on September 13 in Bend, Oregon. Local runners like Debra Mierzwa of Morristown and Carl Epley of Rockwood competed in all four races in the 2009 series and are two of the lucky recipients of this coveted honor.

Following Nationals, runners have the chance to say aloha to the spectacular Hawaiian island of Oahu for the December 6th XTERRA Trail Running World Championship. For more information about the XTERRA Trail Run Series, visit www.xterratrailrun.com.

Complete race results are attached and more information can be found online at www.xterratrailrun.com. Media interested in photos from this event should contact emily@xterraplanet.com.

COMING UP FOR THE 2009 XTERRA TENNESSEE TRAIL RUN SERIES

XTERRA Trail Running National Championship 5/10/21km – Bend, OR – 9/13/09
XTERRA Haw Ridge Xduro 21km Trail Run – Oak Ridge, TN – 10/11/2009 (Race #1 for 2010 Season)
XTERRA Trail Running World Championship 5/10/21km – Oahu, HI – 12/6/09

For more information, visit www.xterratrailrun.com or call 877-XTERRA-1.

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