The snow had barely melted from the XC ski trails at Iola when a spring storm moved through the glaciated hills of central Wisconsin the night before the inaugural Iola Trail Run.  The storm laid down a luxurious 1 inch layer of white powder snow on the grass and dirt trails, providing a superb racing surface for the 180+ trail runners who journeyed to Iola Winter Sports Park on April 17.  Race photos and slide show are now available.  Greg Hexum of Esko, Minnesota was the only runner to break one hour on the hilly 15 Km course winning the event in 59:50.  He was followed by Abe Mendoza of Sherwood, WI (1:04:53) and Joshua Clark of Gillett, WI (1:07:25).  Paula Kastenson of Sturgeon Bay, WI was the women’s winner in the 15 Km (1:25:07) narrowly beating Anna Christian of Chicago (1:25:21).  Julie Rudolph of Madison cross the line in third (1:28:39).  Christian Jensen, an 18 year old college runner from UW Oshkosh won the 5 Km in 24:53.  He was followed by Jackson Aton (Redgranite, WI, 26:45) and Aaron Mock (Lake Mills, WI, 27:06).  The women’s 5 Km saw Clintonville’s Stacy Hohn cover the challenging course in 30:49 to take first.   Kelly Ellington (Neenah, WI, 31:56) and Kara Graci (Marquette, MI, 33:20) crossed the line in 2nd & 3rd respectively. Overall winners in the 15 Km and 5 Km won new trail running shoes from race sponsor Montrail. The kid’s race featured a spectator friendly two lap course on a moderately hilly  1 Km loop near the ski lodge.  On the first loop Daxton Mock (Lake Mills, WI), Madison Hohn (Clintonville, WI) and Gavin Richards (Madison) were even with one another and racing hard.  Near the end of the second loop Mock made a move and Madison followed.  Richards fell back only slightly.  The trio ran hard to the finish.  Mock took the overall boys’ title in 9:40 while Hohn to the girls’ title in 9:49.  Richards finished third in 9:56. A slide show of the kid’s race is now available.  Complete results are now available.