Wiley, Mooney win XTERRA Georgia Series Season Finale

More than 200 participate in Deep South Trail Run

Chris Wiley saved his best for last, as he won the XTERRA Deep South Trail Run on Saturday, June 4, at Jackson, Ga.

It was the final race of the 2010-11 season for the XTERRA Georgia Trail Run Series, and Wiley won it with a strong finish. He completed the 15-kilometer course at Dauset Trails in 54 minutes, 4 seconds, to win the Deep South race for the second time in his career (he also won in 2008).

"The course was fast with a few nice hills in it," said Wiley, 42. "The temperatures were in the mid-90s, so that made it a tough day."

Wiley (pictured at right) estimated that he trailed the leaders by as many as 25 to 30 seconds at the halfway point of the race. He took the lead from David Bell in the final mile, while going up a long climb.

"I buried myself up this hill and by the top of this hill, I was right on him," said Wiley, who is from Atlanta. "I gave it one more hard effort while going by him and gapped him quickly … from there, I just tried to keep it together and get the win."

Bell, who often trains with Wiley in Atlanta, placed second with a time of 54:50. Bell, 28, won the Deep South race last year. Nathan Haskins of Kennesaw, Ga., was third in 55:44.

The victory served as a nice boost for Wiley, as he is training for the USA Track & Field 10K Trail Championships in North Carolina in August.

Tara Mooney of Kennesaw, Ga., placed 14th overall with a time of 1:06:29, and dominated the women's field. It was the second consecutive year that Mooney, 27, won the Deep South race. Heather Trana of Centerville, Ga., was second in 1:18:53, and Elizabeth George of Atlanta was third in 1:19:29.

It was also the third victory this season for Mooney in an XTERRA Georgia race. She entered five races in the Georgia Series and placed in the top three at each race.

More than 200 runners from nine different states participated in the race, and they ranged in age from 15 to 73.

It was the sixth, and final, race of the season for the XTERRA Georgia Trail Run Series. Age-group champions from the overall series standings were invited to represent Georgia at the XTERRA Trail Run National Championship, which is scheduled for Sept. 25 at Ogden, Utah.

For complete results from the XTERRA Deep South Trail Run, click HERE. To learn more about the Georgia Series, please visit www.dirtyspokes.com or www.xterratrailrun.com.

Photo credits: Great Action Portraits / www.greatactionportraits.com

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