Novak Wins First XTERRA Race at Hampton Hills, Conner Tops Women's Field Again

Charles Novak won an XTERRA race for the first time, and Lee Conner won her second in two weeks to highlight the XTERRA Hampton Hills Trail Run last weekend.

The 10-kilometer race was completed on Saturday, June 11, at Hampton Hills Metropark in Akron, Ohio, and was the second event in the 2011 XTERRA Northern Ohio Trail Run Series.

Novak, 43, relied on a strong surge in the last stretch of the course to finish first overall with a time of 44 minutes, 19 seconds. "The first part of the course was a challenging climb, but it was a welcome downhill descent on the backside," said Novak, who resides in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

He said he was as far back as fifth place during the first half of the race, and then made his move in the last two miles of the course. He passed Dominic Wyzomirski on the final hill, which was about 400 yards from the finish line.

"Dominic took a pretty good lead with two miles to go," Novak said. "I was surprised that I was able to catch him. I ran the backside pretty hard and was fortunate enough to catch him with one-fourth of a mile to go."

Novak said he was introduced to trail running this year, and plans on entering all the races in the Northern Ohio Series.

Wyzomirski, who resides in Allison Park, Pa., finished second - just five seconds behind Novak. Sam Edwards of Huntertown, Ind., was third in 44:53.

Conner placed 10th overall with a time of 49:35, and was the top female for the second consecutive race in the Northern Ohio Series. She also won the XTERRA Vulture's Knob race two weeks prior.

"The weather and conditions were generally pleasant - not much mud and not too hot," said Conner, who is 38 and resides in Cleveland.

Conner is the co-captain of the trail racing team for a multi-sport group in northeast Ohio called Grunt Girl Racing. After winning the Hampton Hills race, she spent more time talking about the accomplishments of her teammates than her victory. She noted how 52-year-old Gale Connor set a personal-record time in the race, and Kate McConkey walked the course as a form of rehab for a reconstructed knee, and Catherine Viola completed just the second trail race of her career.

"I came just to support friends in the race and to have a good time, and I did," Conner said.

For complete results from the Hampton Hills Trail Run, click HERE.

The next race in the Northern Ohio Series will be the XTERRA Chapin Forest Trail Run at Kirtland, Ohio, on June 26. To register for a race in the series or to learn more about it, please visit www.xterraohio.com.

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