Sizzling Finish for XTERRA Philly Series

Lobianco and Magri take top honors at Hibernia Park

The final race of the 2011 season for the XTERRA Philly Trail Run Series was highlighted by some new - and fast - runners.

Stephen Lobianco and Francesca Magri took top honors at the XTERRA Hibernia Park Burn Trail Run at Coatesville, Pa., on Sunday, July 24. Both runners were competing in an XTERRA trail run for the first time this season.

Lobianco took top overall honors, completing the 21-kilometer course in 1 hour, 39 minutes, 59 seconds. He ran alone for most of the course, although he said it may have been due to one of the other lead runners taking a wrong turn.

"I started the second loop thinking I was in second place," said Lobianco, 26. "Since no one was really close, I was literally stopping at every water stop to drink one full cup of water and pour one on my head. It was not until I crossed the finish line that I realized that the previous leader had taken a wrong turn and dropped out, leaving me the win."

Lobianco also won an XTERRA Philly race in 2009, but has been concentrating on mountain and road biking, and other road running races in recent years.

The rest of the field was way behind Lobianco. James Downey placed second in 1:48:19, and Justin Wikerd was third in 1:49:48.

Magri was an impressive fifth overall and first among the women with a time of 1:56:05. It was the first XTERRA trail run race of her career.

"I loved it," said Magri, 27. "Tough course with good variation of uphill and downhill trails, with
perfect placement of fields to catch your breath. My favorite part was the creek to run through and cool off, especially for the second lap."

Magri dominated the women's field, finishing 15 minutes ahead of the others. Alice Kassens placed second in 2:11:03, and Corrine Banks was third in 2:16:22.

All of the runners had to endure 90-degree heat for the race, and a challenging course that featured several steep climbs and descents, as well as creek crossings that were deeper than some expected.

"I went just about the whole way under thanks to some bad footing on my part," Lobianco said. "But the creek felt amazing and cooled me off."

There was also a separate 10-kilometer race, and Greg Linsky and Jenna Gormley took top honors. For complete results from the 21K and 10K races, please visit www.pretzelcitysports.com.

The XTERRA Hibernia Park Burn was the fifth of five races during the 2011 season for the XTERRA Philly Trail Run Series.

Special recognition goes to Diane Grim, who placed fourth among the overall women, and first in the women's 50-54 age group. She was the only runner from the Philly Series to go undefeated in her age group for all five races.

Each age-group champion from the Philly Series received a free entry to compete at the XTERRA Trail Run National Championship at Ogden, Utah, on Sept. 25.

For more information on the XTERRA Philly Series, please visit www.mid-atlanticevents.com or www.xterratrailrun.com.

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