Herd and Soltau Run to Impressive Victories

Runners from 20 states participate in XTERRA Harbison Trail Run

Ali Herd has come a long way from the University of Hawaii, in more ways than one.

Herd won her first XTERRA Trail Run - all the way in South Carolina - last week. She has been a student at the University of Hawaii since 2008, but left the islands this summer to prepare for a study abroad program.

Herd, 22, placed fourth overall and was the runaway winner in the women's division of the inaugural XTERRA Harbison Trail Run at Columbia, S.C., on July 10. Herd completed the 21-kilometer course in 1 hour, 56 minutes, 22 seconds.

"This was my first XTERRA Trail Run," said Herd (pictured at right). "The race was challenging, beautiful and fun to enjoy the joy of pushing the body limits in the forest."

The course proved to be both challenging and tricky. Herd said there were stages of the race where she was running alone and "had no idea of the women around me."

As it turned out, there were no other women around her. Herd finished 15 minutes ahead of the next female. Kyra Woodyard finished in second with a time of 2:11:18, and Jessica Pate was third in 2:16:11.

"The course was full of hills and it is necessary that runners have skills in downhill running, as well as strength on uphills," Herd said. "The first half had occasional uphills, but it mostly downhill. The second half is reverse, with occasional downhills, but mostly steady uphills. This race is not a beginner course."

Herd admits that she did not have the greatest results during her stint as a cross country runner for the University of Hawaii, but she has recently found her niche in longer races, such as the 21-kilometer XTERRA Harbison race.

Andrew Soltau (pictured at left) of Columbia, S.C., was the overall winner, completing the course in 1:49:26. His victory was also impressive, as he finished more than five minutes ahead of the rest of the field.

Kyle Webb placed second in 1:54:38, and Brian Smith was third in 1:54:54.

More than 220 runners representing 20 different states participated in the event, including 75-year-old E.K. Tolley-Beeson from Sumter, S.C. She is a cancer survivor and completed the course in 5:56:42.

For complete results, click HERE.

The race was the second of three events in the 2011 XTERRA South Carolina Trail Run Series. The series finale will be the XTERRA Table Rock Trail Run at Pickens, S.C., on Aug. 20.

To enter a race in the South Carolina Series, or to learn more about it, please visit www.marathonmajic.com or www.xterratrailrun.com.

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