Schroeder, Caldwell Earn First XTERRA Trail Run Wins

Oak Hill provides a fast course for Ohio runners

Instead of running from the back of the pack, Laurie Schroeder tried to stay in front this time.

As a result, Schroeder earned the first XTERRA Trail Run victory of her career. She won the women's division of the XTERRA Oak Hill Trail Run on Saturday, August 27. Schroeder, who is 28 and resides in Galion, Ohio, completed the 8-kilometer course in 37 minutes, 40 seconds.

Wade Caldwell was the overall winner with a time of 30:46. The race was held at the Oak Hill Trailhead of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

It was the sixth of seven races in the 2011 XTERRA Northern Ohio Trail Run Series.

"This was the most exciting win for me," said Schroeder (pictured at right). "I've been working very hard to win one of these races."

In her previous XTERRA race, Schroeder got lost on her way to the race and showed up 20 minutes after it started. She was still allowed to run and finished in the middle of the pack. This time, she arrived at the race site early, took the early lead among the women, and never looked back.

"This course is relatively easy, except for one hill just after halfway," she said. "I started the race telling myself that I was going to win, and pushed myself to keep pace, or go faster. When I crossed the line and they said 'first female' all I could do was smile."

Lee Conner, who has been the top overall female runner in the Northern Ohio Series, did not enter this race due to scheduling conflicts.

"I know that I wouldn't have won if Lee would have been there, and I wish I could have seen how well I would have done against her," Schroeder said. "But I will take it!"

Caldwell, 40, took first place overall in his first try at an XTERRA Trail Run. Charles Novak, who won the previous XTERRA Northern Ohio race, placed second this time. Novak came in with a time of 31:30, and Sam Thompson was third in 33:02.

For complete results, click HERE.

The race was also a warm-up of sorts for the Northern Ohio Series finale this weekend. The XTERRA Leave No Trace Trail Run is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 3, at Peninsula, Ohio. That race will feature a 21-kilometer course - the longest of the Northern Ohio Series.

As the series finale, the Leave No Trace race will also serve as the final chance for runners to earn points toward the 2011 age-group standings. The top age-group runners at the end of the series will earn free invitations to represent Ohio at the 2011 XTERRA Trail Run National Championship at Ogden, Utah, on Sept. 25.

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