Pontius, Cottrill Top XTERRA Hargus Lake

(Circleville, OH) – Rainy weather leading up to the race made for some muddy conditions at Saturday’s XTERRA Hargus Lake Trail Run, but that didn’t stop 21-year old Cody Pontius and Joan Cottrill, 48 of Cuyahoga Falls, from turning in some blazing fast 7km times of 29:40 and 36:15 respectively.

With the fastest time of the day, Pontius edged out XTERRA Vulture’s Knob third place finisher Brian Bernard, 24 of Stow, by less than a minute with Steve Savage, 29, rounding out the top three in 31:12.

Placing eighth overall, Cottrill, who took fourth place for the women at the last XTERRA Ohio Trail Run Series event, won the women’s race by just 43 seconds over runner-up Kelly Zaleski, 20. Medina’s 47-year old Connie Hissong took third in 38:49.

Race director Brandon Huff was very pleased with the outcome of this first time event. “The race went great this weekend! We are really starting to build a great deal of momentum for the remaining races in the XTERRA Ohio Trail Run Series. We had a lot of trail running converts after the race.” In a post-race report, runner Tony Mollica commented on the race’s five or six deep creek crossings and six sets of stairs, signs of a true XTERRA event.

The XTERRA Hargus Lake Trail Run was the second of five races in the brand new XTERRA Ohio Trail Run Series. The top runners in each age group will be awarded points toward their series totals, and those with the highest scores at the end of the season will be crowned XTERRA Ohio Regional Champions and win free entry into the XTERRA Trail Running National Championship on September 18 in Bend, Oregon.

From there, runners are invited to race at the XTERRA Trail Running World Championship on December 5 at Kualoa Ranch. This spectacular 4,000-acre ranch on the exotic Hawaiian island of Oahu has been the filming location for major productions like Jurassic Park, Godzilla and LOST.
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.

2010 XTERRA Ohio Trail Run Series Schedule

6/26 – XTERRA Chapin Forest Trail Run – 8km – Kirtland, OH
7/10 – XTERRA Mohican Trail Run – 18km – Loudonville, OH
8/21 – XTERRA Oak Hill Trail Run – 8km – Boston Township, OH
9/18 – XTERRA Trail Running National Championship – 5/10/21km – Bend, OR
12/5 – XTERRA Trail Running World Championship – 5/10/21km – Oahu, HI

For more information about the XTERRA Trail Run Series, visit www.xterratrailrun.com.

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