TRURO - Chris Ross let out a yelp as he crossed the finish line first during the 5K race on Sunday.
Ross, an 18-year-old Harmony resident, finished the first 5K race of the Cobequid Trail Run with a final time of 20:33, just nine seconds ahead of Cory McGuigan from Halifax.
"I ran 5k in my training and ran it in over 20 (minutes)," said Ross, adding he had a goal to run the race under those 20 minutes, which he thought he had.
"It was phenomenal for me."
Playing on the provincial badminton team, Ross said he was running the race to keep his cardio up.
To prepare for the race, it's a combination of a number of things, said Ross.
"A good night's rest, staying hydrated and making sure you're mentally and physically prepared," he said, adding a good stretch is also key.
At the age of 40, Chuck Dixon said he's still young in terms of age for runners.
"I've been running for about eight years, but it's mainly long distances now," said the Sackville, N.B., man who came first in the half-marathon with a time of 1:18:18.
"For me, as I get older, I find my endurance improves."
While he doesn't like to compare courses, Dixon said he was amazed by the local trail.
"It was well groomed and the scenery was nice. It certainly takes your mind ff what you want to accomplish when you see the water and land," he said.
With 276 registered runners for the seventh annual event, the skies stayed dry for the runners for the most part despite the threat of Hurricane Irene bringing rain and high winds to the area.
rtetanish@trurodaily.com
The Cobequid Trail Run top five
5K
Males
1 - Chris Ross, Harmony - 20:33
2 - Cory McGuigan, Halifax - 20:42
3 - Daniel Maguire, Hamilton, ON - 20:49
4 - Dina Dimattia, Halifax - 21:21
5 - Carl Ballard, Valley - 21:49
Females
1 - Brenda Benson, Summerside - 21:14
2 - Mary Dixon, Sackville, N.B. - 23:38
3 - Clarissa Dean, Hilden - 24:19
4 - Jill Bates, Bible Hill. - 27:32
5 - Samantha MacDonald, Halifax - 29:04
10K
Males
1 - Corey Deveaux, Little Bras D'or - 37:57
2 - Derek Estabrook, Halifax - 38:47
3 - George Reid, Chelsea - 40:47
4 - Kevin Tulloch, New Glasgow - 40:58
5 - Duncan Gilchrist, Maine - 41:04
Females
1 - Erin MacLean, Timberlea - 38:55
2 - Reheleah Sanford, Truro - 47:35
3 - Alison Murphy, Halifax - 47:59
4 - Rebecca MacKenzie, Truro - 48:41
5 - Shelagh Kedd-Veino, Lunenburg - 49:42
Half-Marathon
Males
1 - Chuck Dixon, Sackville, N.B. - 1:18:18
2 - Leo McCosham, Charlottetown - 1:18:53
3 - David Holder, Bedford - 1:23:48
4 - Mike Mueller, Fall River - 1:23:49
5 - Matt Callaghan, Timberlea - 1:25:54
Females
1 - Elita Rahn, Carter's Point, N.B. - 1:29:28
2 - Stacy Juckett Chesney, Dartmouth - 1:31:30
3 - Robyn Erickson, Halifax - 1:35:55
4 - Anita Howard, Milton - 1:38:05
5 - Heather-Lee Callaghan, Timberlea - 1:42:35
