Fantastic Finish for XTERRA Arizona Trail Run Series

Loutitt and Cordova prevail over record field of runners at Black Canyon

The XTERRA Arizona Trail Run Series came to a fantastic finish, with a series record of 398 runners participating in the season finale on Sunday, March 25.

The XTERRA Black Canyon Trail Run was the fourth - and final - race of the 2011-12 season for the XTERRA Arizona Trail Run Series. The event drew runners from 18 different states, as well as several from Canada, and it was the first trail run ever staged at the picturesque Black Canyon Trail in Rock Springs, Arizona.

Jason Loutitt was the overall winner, completing the 21-kilometer long course in 1 hour, 24 minutes, 51 seconds. He is a professional ultra runner from British Columbia, Canada, and he proved his worth by running away from the field.

(Jason Loutitt pictured, courtesy Tortoise & Hare Sports)

Loutitt, 37, took the lead early in the course and never looked back. Nick Coury of Phoenix was second with a time of 1:30:38, and John Storkamp of Hastings, Minnesota, was third in 1:34:47.

In the women's division, perseverance paid off for Jeanine Cordova from Phoenix. Cordova entered the three previous races in the XTERRA Arizona Series, finishing in the top five overall each time. This, however, was her first overall victory.

"My legs were fresh, and I felt like I was having a good day," Cordova said. "As far as I could tell, there was only one woman ahead of me, and I passed her somewhere around mile 4. Taking the title for this inaugural event was a pleasant way to close a great series. I'm happy to have been a part of it."

Cordova, 31, is a former member of the cross country team at the Air Force Academy who now competes in triathlons and trail runs in Arizona. She said she was impressed with the course at Black Canyon.

"The course was beautiful," she said. "If you're not familiar with Arizona, the Black Canyon Trail was recently opened, and this is the first running event to the best of my knowledge to utilize this new trail. The trail has a handful of technical switch-back turns and the weather was perfect."

In addition to the 21-kilometer long course, there was also a 9-kilometer course for sprinters and less-experienced runners. Arthur Lopez was the overall  winner of the 9K with a time of 37:27, and Nichole Ewert was the first female in 45:55.

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

The top 15 runners in each age-group for the 21K received points toward the overall standings of the 2011-12 XTERRA Arizona Trail Run Series. Each age-group champion will receive a free entry to represent Arizona at the 2012 XTERRA Trail Run National Championship in Utah this September.

Here is a list of the 2012 Arizona Series champions:

The XTERRA Arizona Trail Run Series will take the summer months off due to the extreme heat in the area, but is scheduled to return for the 2012-13 season with a race in October.

To learn more about the XTERRA Arizona Trail Run Series, or to register for a future race, please visit www.aztrailrace.com.

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