Kievning, Gregory Claim First at XTERRA Crystal Cove

(Laguna Beach, CA) – Always one of the most popular races of the XTERRA SoCal season, today’s sold-out XTERRA Crystal Cove Trail Run welcomed 300 runners, and after being postponed three times due to rain, it was Sean Kievning and Caroline Gregory who finally took home the day’s top titles.

Redondo Beach’s XTERRA SoCal age group leader Sean Kievning, 26, championed the main, 17km race in 1:11:06. Just last week, he took third place in NorCal’s XTERRA Redwood Peak Trail Run and was strong enough to come back today to finish more than three minutes ahead of San Diego’s Matthew Michael, 40. XTERRA SoCal regular Ron Paquette, 51 of Los Angeles, rounded out the men’s podium in 1:15:19.

Thirty-year old Caroline Gregory of Del Mar won the women’s long race in 1:20:07. Just three minutes behind Gregory, a close race took place for second, but Beth Hibbarb, 37 of Seal Beach, was able to edge out San Clemente’s Kristen Smith, 30, by 32 seconds with her runner-up time of 1:23:06.

A new course record was set in the 5K as Sean Kennedy, 26 of Venice, CA, blew through the course in just 20:19, more than three minutes ahead of Robert Jackson, 41 of Laguna Beach. Dana Point’s Myra Bregman, 44, took first in the women’s short race in 26:36 with Jeanene Martinez, 30 of Alisa Viejo, claiming second in 27:58. Following the event, all runners enjoyed an excellent post-race BBQ sponsored by Subaru.

This was the fifth of seven races in the 2010 XTERRA SoCal Trail Run Series. Top runners in the 17km event will earn points toward their season totals, and those finishing the year with the highest scores will be crowned XTERRA Regional Champions and awarded free entry to the XTERRA Trail Running National Championship on September 18th in Bend, Oregon.

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 IN THE 2010 XTERRA SOCAL TRAIL RUN SERIES

XTERRA Malibu Creek Xduro Trail Run 6/22km – 5/8/10 – Malibu, CA
XTERRA Mission Gorge Trail Run 5/15km – 5/30/10 – San Diego, CA

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

© 2013 TEAM Unlimited LLC