Fantastic Finish for 2012 XTERRA Pocono Series

Korch, Shokey take top honors in finale at Gouldsboro

Tony Korch and Jackyn Shokey took top honors at the XTERRA Gouldsboro Trail Run last weekend, but many other runners shared the spotlight.

The XTERRA Gouldsboro Trail Run - an 8-kilometer race at Gouldsboro State Park - was completed on Saturday, June 30, and it drew dozens of runners, ranging in age from 12 to 69.

The 52-year-old Korch proved that experience can be key in a race, as he was the first overall finisher with a time of 38 minutes, 46 seconds. Making it more impressive, he finished more than a minute ahead of his closest competition.

"I was so very happy to win this race against such good young runners," said Korch, who resides in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania. "They work so hard out there and never give up. The only advantage I have is experience."

The course at Gouldsboro featured a variety of challenges, including several steep climbs, a section of soft sand, and 85-degree weather.

(Race photo courtesy www.wilkesbarreracing.com)

Grant Farrell of Lancaster, Pa., placed second with a time of 39:58, and James Ryan of Wilkes Barre, Pa., was third in 40:57.

Shokey placed seventh overall and was the first female with a time of 43:57. It was a familiar finish for Shokey, as she won four of the five races in the 2012 XTERRA Pocono Trail Run Series.

CLICK HERE to see the full list of results.

The XTERRA Gouldsboro Trail Run was the fifth, and final, race in the 2012 XTERRA Pocono Trail Run Series.  This year's Pocono Series drew more than 300 runners from 14 different states.

Two runners wend undefeated in their respective age groups for the entire season: Shokey in the female 35-39 division, and Ryan in the male 15-19 division.

Every age-group winner from the 2012 Pocono Series received a free entry to the XTERRA Trail Run National Championship, which is scheduled for September 23 at Ogden, Utah. The full list of 20 age-group champions can be seen below.

In addition, two runners from the series were selected via random draw for free airfare to Utah to compete in the National Championship race. The winners of the free airfare were Jill Hildebrand from Wapwallopen, Pa., and Paul Marcks from Scranton, Pa.

"I was very surprised," Marcks said of winning the random draw. "Now I get a free trip to Utah. I wouldn't have gone (to the National Championship) if not for this."

Marcks, 29, said he started running just one year ago, and the XTERRA Pocono Series served as an intense introduction to trail running. "I signed up for all the races at the beginning of the year not knowing anything about it," he said. "It was probably a little more challenging than I expected. I had never run on any trails like this before. I'm looking forward to doing more now."

XTERRA Pocono Series director Rich Pais said the races will return to the Pocono region in Spring 2013. "Trail running is exploding in popularity across the nation and northeast Pennsylvania has some of the most challenging trails in the eastern United States," he said.

To learn more about the series, please visit www.wilkesbarreracing.com. Here is a list of the 2012 XTERRA Pocono Series Champions:

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