Thomson, Friedman Win at Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado

J. Marshall Thomson's first XTERRA Trail Run race turned into an impressive victory.

Thomson won the XTERRA Cheyenne Mountain Trail Run in convincing fashion, topping a field that included several elite runners. He finished the 24-kilometer long course in 1 hour, 27 minutes, 27 seconds.

The event was completed on April 14 at Cheyenne Mountain State Park in Colorado Springs, Colo. Thomson entered the race at the last minute because a ski mountaineering event he planned on competing in was canceled.

"This was my first XTERRA," he said. "The course conditions were perfect for a fast, straight-forward race. For me this race was the first of the season. It was nice to have a fast cruisey course to start with. I loved the slightly technical climbs followed by long fast descents."

Tommy Manning, a member of the U.S. Mountain Running Team in 2010 and 2011, placed second with a time of 1:32:13. Greg Friedman was third in 1:34:59.

"Tommy Manning is super strong," Thomson said. "He started the race in the lead and was keeping a fast pace on the initial climb. I just wanted to stay close to Tommy, and knew if I could keep him close I would have a good race. I passed Tommy on the first descent. I was unsure if he let me pass to find out what kind of pace I would lead with. I felt good and the smooth tacky surface on the descent allowed for long fast strides."

Amy Friedman - wife of the third-place finisher Greg Friedman - placed eighth overall and was the top female with a time of 1:41:22.

"I was not aware of any other female competitors around me," she said. "I ran happily with the men around me, pushing me and keeping me going.  They kept me energized!"

Friedman and her husband often train and race together. They were working as teachers in Bangladesh last year, but are on a sabbatical this year, spending much of their time in Colorado.

"Colorado is home in our hearts," Friedman said. "We met here and taught in Boulder for five years before heading overseas. We have been working for the past seven years internationally, and are not on a one-year family sabbatical."

Ellie Keyser was the second female with a time of 1:44:14, and Kim Baugh was third in 1:53:15.

The XTERRA Cheyenne Mountain Trail Run featured two courses. In addition to the 24K long course, there was also a 12-kilometer short course.

Ben Klungtvedt won the 12K race with a time of 44:58. Lindsay Hyman was the first female in 56:06.

More than 120 runners competed in the event. To view complete results, CLICK HERE.

The event was the second of five races in the 2012 XTERRA Colorado Trail Run Series. The next event in the series will be the XTERRA Balarat Trail Run on June 2 in Jamestown, Colo. To enter a race in the Colorado Series or to learn more about it, CLICK HERE.

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