Johnson and Mooney win Battle at Big Creek

Capacity field participates in XTERRA Georgia Trail Run

After a couple of runner-up finishes earlier this season, Michael Johnson emerged in front this time, winning the XTERRA Battle at Big Creek Trail Run today at Roswell, Ga.

Johnson completed the 9-mile course in 1 hour, 41 seconds, to finish first overall. Johnson , 23, is from Canton, Ga.

He finished far ahead of the rest of the field, as second place Ian McCann came in more than five minutes later at 1:06:08. McCann, who is from Atlanta, beat Johnson for first place at the previous race in the Georgia Series last month.

Tara Mooney of Kennesaw, Ga., was the first female with a time of 1:15:31. Mooney, 27, placed 13th overall.

Alexis O’Brien of Decatur, Ga., came in second among the females at 1:19:14.

A capacity field of 350 runners participated in the event, ranging in age from 14 to 73. In addition to the 9-mile course, there was also a 5-mile course for less-experienced trail runners. Chris Howren of Kennesaw, Ga., was the first overall finisher in the 5-mile race, while Nina Baker of Johnson City, Tenn., was the first female.

It was the third of six races in the XTERRA Georgia Trail Run Series for the 2010-11 season. The next race in the series is the Victoria Bryant Trail Run on Dec. 4.

For more information visit www.xterratrailrun.com or www.dirtyspokes.com.

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