XTERRA Northern Ohio Series Set to Start 2011 Season

Vulture's Knob Trail Run will be first of seven races

Northern Ohio produced two world champions on the XTERRA trail running circuit in 2010, and even more will be taking a shot at it in 2011.

The XTERRA Northern Ohio Trail Run Series will open its 2011 season on Saturday, May 28, at Wooster, Ohio. This is the same series that Joan Cottrill and Kenneth Harrison excelled in last year en route to winning their respective age-group titles at the 2010 XTERRA Trail Run World Championship.

Cottrill, who is from Cuyahoga Hills, won the women's 45-49 age group in the Ohio Series last year, then went on to win a national championship in Oregon, then a world championship in Hawaii. Harrison followed a similar path in the men's 70-74 age group.

"The Ohio Series had a nice variety of short, faster runs, as well as some mid-range distances," Cottrill said. "I felt that the shorter, faster courses prepared me for the Nationals in Bend (Oregon) because it was a fast and less-technical course. The hillier courses like Mohican and Vulture's Knob are great preparation for the Hawaii course - although I don't know if anything can prepare a runner for that course."

The 2011 Northern Ohio Series will host seven races - two more races than last year, which means there will be more opportunities for runners to participate in the growing sport of trail running. What's more, each race will offer something different, with course distances ranging from 8 kilometers to 21 kilometers.

This weekend's race is the XTERRA Vulture's Knob Trail Run, which will feature a challenging 15-kilometer course at Vulture's Knob Park in Wooster.

The race is open to runners of all ages and skill levels, and entries will be accepted on race day.

"Northern Ohio is home to several world-class runners as well as a large number of recreational runners," series director Joe Jurczyk said. "Local runners are friendly, and organized trail runs can be found in the area almost every day of the year, ranging from beginners to die-hards."

For more information on the Northern Ohio Series, or to register for the races, please visit www.xterraohio.com or www.xterratrailrun.com.

XTERRA Vulture's Knob Trail Run

What: Open trail run at Vulture's Knob Park
When: May 28, 8 a.m. start
Where: Vulture's Knob Park, Wooster, Ohio
Course distance: 15 kilometers
Who: Open to runners of all ages and skill levels
Entry fees: $45
Online registration: www.xterraohio.com or www.xterratrailrun.com

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