Linn Runs into History at XTERRA Alabama Season Opener

She becomes first female to place first overall

Elena Linn knew she was on a fast pace at the XTERRA Cheaha State Park Trail Run last weekend at Delta, Ala. She just didn't realize how fast.

Linn made history by placing first overall. Not just first among the women, she was first among the entire field of more than 100 trail runners.

"I was shocked," she said. "I passed the guy who was in first maybe just a little after mile 1, but I wasn't sure if there was anybody else."

Linn (pictured courtesy www.greatactionportraits.com) completed the 10-kilometer course in 42 minutes, 41 seconds, to become the first female to finish first overall in XTERRA Alabama Trail Run race. XTERRA Trail Runs started in Alabama in 2006.

Adding to the historic run, Mary Houchin-Brooks - another female - placed second overall with a time of 42:47.

"She was always 100 to 200 feet behind me, and I know she was catching up in the last mile," Linn said. "It helped me to have her right there because it kept pushing me."

The course featured several grueling uphill climbs, and Linn said she focused on her own race.

"Miles 3 and 4 had a hill that was really awful, really tough," she said. "But overall it was a great course. You get so focused on the course that you don't really think about who might be in front of you."

Linn, 25, is a graduate student at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. She was an all-conference performer in cross country and track at Georgia Tech in the mid-2000s.

Drew Stricklin placed third overall and was the first male finisher with a time of 43:28. For complete results, click HERE.

The XTERRA Cheaha State Park Trail Run was the first of four races in the 2011-12 XTERRA Alabama Trail Run Series. The field featured runners ranging in age from 17 to 71.

Alabama is one of 12 regions that will host an XTERRA Trail Run Series during the 2011-12 season. The others are Arizona, Southern California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Pocono, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

The races are open to runners of all ages and skill levels. The next race in the Alabama Series is the XTERRA Monte Sano Trail Run at Huntsville, Ala., on Oct. 22. To register for the race or learn more about the series, please visit www.dirtyspokes.com or www.xterratrailrun.com.

Race photo courtesy of www.greatactionportraits.com

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