Madison, Plair win XTERRA Magnolia Hill Trail Run

Texas Series comes to a close for 2010-11 season

Two wrong turns led to the right decision at the XTERRA Magnolia Hill Trail Run last weekend.

Michael Madison of Austin, Texas, was declared the overall winner after it was discovered that he was inadvertently sent in the wrong direction at two different sections of the course - both times while he was far ahead of the rest of the field.

"I was misdirected twice; once around mile 4.5 and once around what would have been mile 6 for me," Madison said. "I tried to make the best of it, finished the race, and hoped that (race director) Mike Carter would be understanding of the situation. In all, I ran at least 1.5 miles more than everyone else, maybe closer to two."

Time adjustments were made by Carter and his staff, and Madison was credited with a winning time of 1 hour, 11 minutes, 6 seconds, over the 16-kilometer course at Magnolia Hill Park in Navasota, Texas.

"The course was very enjoyable," said Madison, 26. "We're in the midst of a terrible state-wide drought that has brought over 75 days of 100-plus degree weather to the central Texas area. Fortunately, the Magnolia course featured tall pine trees that provided great shade and good racing conditions. The last 6 kilometers were very technical with numerous twists and turns, and then a finish around a sandy shore which was comparable to running on a beach."

Christopher Whelchel placed second with a time of 1:11:36, and Sam Labrie was third in 1:12:36.

Jennifer Plair of Caldwell, Texas, placed fifth overall and was the top female with a time of 1:15:51. Dianne Garban was the second female with a time of 1:27:16.

The Magnolia Hill race was the fifth, and final, event of the 2011 XTERRA Texas Trail Run Series. Madison was the overall winner of the last two races in the series.

There was also a 6-kilometer "short course" at Magnolia Hill, and Tessa Madison - Michael's wife - was the top female finisher.

"It was her first ever trail race and she was surprised at how technical trail running can be, with hurdling creeks and sharp turns around trees," Michael said. "I convinced her two days before the event to participate and very glad she did! We don't do much running together, but she does train with the running group I work for - Gilbert's Gazelles."

Complete results from the race can be found HERE.

The top age-group runners from the XTERRA Texas Trail Run Series earned free invitations to represent Texas at the 2011 XTERRA Trail Run National Championship at Ogden, Utah, on Sept. 25.

The 2011-12 season for the XTERRA Texas Trail Run Series is scheduled to begin on Oct. 9 with the XTERRA Bluff Creek Ranch Trail Run. To register for a race in the Texas Series, or to learn more about it, please visit www.racerevolutions.com or www.xterratrailrun.com.

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