Bullaburra native Ben St Lawrence took out Sunday’s City to Surf race, posting a time of 41.42 minutes, just two seconds ahead of second place-getter Liam Adams.
The 36-year-old St Lawrence sprinted the last few metres of the 14km race to clinch his second City2Surf victory in a time of 41.42 minutes. He also won the race in 2010.
The dual Olympian long-distance runner, who attended Korowal and Blue Mountains Grammar, had been shoulder-to-shoulder with cross country champion Adams for most of the course.
“We kind of worked together into the headwind make sure the boys didn’t catch us and then it was on for the last few [kilometres]," St Lawrence said at the Bondi Beach finish line.
“I tried to drop him down the hill but I forget that he’s probably Australia’s best descender," St Lawrence said.
“[After the final corner] I wasn’t exactly sure how long it was to the finish but I wanted to be in front.”
He has hit top form in recent months, smashing the 22-kilometre Ultra-Trail Australia race from Wentworth Falls to Katoomba in May, when he knocked an astonishing seven minutes off the record in a time of 1:35.23.
Glenbrook runner Marnie Ponton was them third fastest woman overall, behind 18-year-old Ellie Pashley from Victoria. Ponton won her 30-39 age group, finishing the race in 47.53 minutes.