Maryland Runners Finish Strong at XTERRA Gwynns Falls Trail Run

(Baltimore, MD) – On a hot, summer, Maryland day, 112 runners , ages 13-75, came out to challenge the 5K and 10K events at the XTERRA Gwynns Falls Trail Run.

Baltimore local Chris Sams, 23, crossed the finish line first in the 10K event with a time of 37:58 with Jesse Albright, 16, from Manchester, MD coming in at 40:37. In the women’s 10K race, Sun Miner, 47, of Ellicott City, MD came in at 47:04, only a minute ahead of Holly Marcum, 42, of Annapolis.

In the 5K event, Phoenix, MD resident Ryan Handzo, 19, had the fastest time in 18:59, less than a minute ahead of Curtis Henry, 36, of Columbia, MD. Jael Koech, 25, came all the way from Lakewales, FL to win the women’s 5K race in 21:51 beating Owings Mills, MD local Erin Sitera, 26, by under a minute.

According to race director Kelly Dees, the heat was the only less than favorable factor of the day, but a shaded course did provide some relief. Kelly said the event “got raves about the courses. People had never really been to the trail even though they live in the area and enjoyed a “new” venue.”

This was the first race in the 2008 XTERRA Chesapeake Trail Run Series with only two more opportunities for runners to earn points toward their 2008 Chesapeake Series total. Athletes with top points at the end of the series will be awarded free entry to the XTERRA National Trail Running Championship on September 27 in Bend, Oregon. From there runners can race in the first-ever XTERRA Trail Running World Championship on December 7 at the beautiful Kualoa Ranch in Hawaii.

Next up for the 2008 XTERRA Chesapeake Series is the XTERRA Boordy Vineyards Trail Run 5K in Hydes, MD on August 10.

Complete results from today’s race are attached and more information can be found online at www.xterratrailrun.com. Media interested in photos from this event should contact emily@xterraplanet.com.

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