Omurwa and Shokey Earn First Pocono Series Victories

XTERRA Seven Tubs Trail Run was short but extreme

Bornfase Omurwa is proving to be a quick learner in the XTERRA Pocono Trail Run Series. It helps that he's a quick runner.

Omurwa won the XTERRA Seven Tubs Trail Run last Saturday (May 21) at the Seven Tubs Nature Center near Bear Creek Township, Pa.

Omurwa, who is originally from Kenya but now resides in Kingston, Pa., completed the 5-kilometer course in 21 minutes, 14 seconds. The victory came in just the second trail race of his career. His first trail race happened just two weeks prior at another XTERRA Pocono Series event, when he finished in second place. "It is more fun as I learn better how to race on the trails" said Omurwa, 28. 

Richard Burgunder of Pittsburgh placed a close second in 21:27, and Brian Hess from Mohnton, Pa., was third in 21:40.

Jaclyn Shokey of Bangor, Pa., placed 13th overall with a time of 24:39, and was the first female. Jess Dymun from Elizabethtown, Pa., was second in 25:03.

The 5K course was short but extreme, as the runners had to traverse through several stream crossings, two steep rocky climbs, and an overall slick trail. "It rained all week on the course" race director Reg Thomas said. "This made a difficult course even more challenging."

Bill Lawrence (pictured at right), an experienced trail runner who placed second in the men's 50-54 age division, added: "You had to watch every single step for three miles. Wet rocks, slick roots, water on the trail … one look up and you were down!"

The Seven Tubs Trail Run was the second of five races in the 2011 XTERRA Pocono Trail Run Series. The next race in the series is the XTERRA Hickory Trail Run near Whitehaven, Pa., on June 4. Registration is $20 on-line or $25 at the event.

To see full results from the completed races, or to register for an upcoming race in the Pocono Series, please visit www.wilkesbarreracing.com or www.xterratrailrun.com.

(Race photo courtesy www.wilkesbarreracing.com)

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