Local Triathlete Sets New Course Record at XTERRA Trail Run

(Topanga, CA) – After celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday, a sold-out field of over 400 runners took their places at the start of yesterday’s XTERRA Topanga Turkey Trot Trail Run. Taking place at the Trippet Ranch in the Topanga State Park, the race offered runners three distances to choose from.

Setting a new course record, 27-year old local triathlete Chris Foster of Redondo Beach finished the 15km course in just 57:33. Coming in almost 2 minutes later was Romualao Sanchez, 39, of Montebello. It was Jessica McAdam, 32, from Ventura that took home the win for the women in the 15km event with her time of 1:17:00 beating Beth Gerdes, 29 of Carlsbad, CA by more than 3 minutes. Coming in 8th overall for the women was Hannah Rae Finchamp in 1:28:17, who at just 14 years old continues to prove age is not a factor for success.

Just like boyfriend Chris Foster, Karli Kotulka, 26, also came away with a record-setting win with her 10km finish of 51:50. Karli crossed the finish line almost 6 minutes ahead of Anna Feinberg, 31, of Woodland Hills. Adding to the blazing fast day of racing was Los Angeles resident Sal Bautista, 26, who killed the 10k course record by 7 minutes in 41:09 edging out David Valencia, 31 from Encinitas, by just 40 seconds.

Palmdale resident Kegan Marsh, 15, and Brooke Akina, 17 from Moorpark, won the men’s and women’s 5km races in 26:14 and 34:34 respectively.

According to race director Brennan Lindner, it was a wonderful day out on the trails. “The weather was perfect with a starting temperature of around 65 degrees. There was a ton of fast racing and everyone had a great time.”

This was the second of six races in the 2008-09 XTERRA SoCal Trail Run Series giving runners four more opportunities to add points toward their series totals. Athletes with top points will earn free entry to the XTERRA Trail Running National Championship next September in Bend, Oregon.

In addition, runners finishing yesterday’s race in less than 3 hours automatically qualify for both Nationals and the XTERRA Trail Running World Championship in Hawaii.

Complete race results 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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