Runners from ages 9 to 65 Participate in Bluebonnet Trail Run

Breitenbach and Leva take top honors

Burnet, TEXAS - Meredith Leva has had previous success in XTERRA Trail Runs in Northern California and Arizona. Now, she's proving her worth in Texas.

Leva was the top female finisher at the inaugural XTERRA Bluebonnet Trail Run on April 21 at Reveile Peak Ranch. The event was the second of five in the 2012 XTERRA Texas Trail Run Series.

Leva completed the 10-kilometer course in 1 hour, 8 minutes, 34 seconds.

Lon Breitenbach was the overall winner, completing the course in 1:05:33.

"The day had perfect weather … not too hot or cold, and sunny clear skies," said Leva, 25. "There were some steep climbs and areas where you really had to focus on how you were going to get across without slipping or tripping."

Leva, however, is familiar with XTERRA Trail Runs. Two years ago, she competed in the XTERRA Northern California Series. Last year, she moved to Phoenix for graduate school and competed in the XTERRA Arizona Series. This year, she moved to Austin, Texas, for business reasons.

"They are wonderful because you get to see different and beautiful areas of states," Leva said of her experience in various XTERRA Trail Runs. "It's such a different mental and physical challenge than flat roads."

Her closest competition made for a mental and physical challenge at the Bluebonnet Trail Run. Sisters Kaytlynn and Heather Welsch chased Leva the entire course, and finished in second and third respectively. Kaytlynn is 11 and Heather is 9.

"The two younger girls were amazing and they were extremely quick," Leva said. "The older one was in front and I was right behind her, but my longer leg stride was beneficial on some of the climbs and I took the lead."

In the men's division, the 42-year-old Breitenbach finished nearly three minutes ahead of the rest of the field, and the most excitement came in the race for second.

Four runners sprinted to the finish line side-by-side. Justin Wendling was credited with second place with a time of 1:08:00, and the next three - Brad Bailey, Michael Gates and Andy Prior - were officially declared tied for third.

For complete results CLICK HERE.

The next event in the XTERRA Texas Trail Run Series will be the XTERRA Pure Austin Fitness Muleshoe Trail Run at Spicewood, Texas, on June 17. To register for a race in the series or to learn more about it, please CLICK HERE.

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