Sydney’s City2Surf run taken out by Olympic long-distance runner
Sydney's gruelling City2Surf event has been won by Olympic long-distance runner Ben St Lawrence and Ellie Pashley.
More than 80,000 people took part in the 14-kilometre run which started at Hyde Park in the CBD before winding through the eastern suburbs and finishing at the iconic Bondi Beach.
It is the second victory for St Lawrence, 36, who took out the elite men's category in a time of 41 minutes.
He said he had to fight hard to keep pace with a competitor, who broke away from a group of leaders, despite "not feeling great".
"I thought if he gets away now, that's the race gone," he said.
"I fought really hard through Rose Bay to get back onto him and then it was the two of us."
St Lawrence said it was not until the last few kilometres that he was able to make his move.
"I tried to drop him down the hill but I forgot he's probably Australia's best descender," he said.
Ellie Pashley won the elite women's category, arriving at Bondi in a time of 46 minutes.
"I've done this run a few times and I've always thought it would be an amazing race to win but never, ever thought that would happen," she said.
"I can't believe it."
Sam Rizzo took out the elite wheelchair race in just under 39 minutes.
Many runners take part in costumes and raise money for various charities.
The annual event has raised more than $36 million since 2008, when a fundraising tally began.
Among the runners was double-lung transplant recipient Adam Wells, who was diagnosed with sarcoidosis in 2003.
Mr Wells received his new lungs in October 2017.
He set himself the task of completing demanding physical challenges, including the 14-kilometre race.
Next year, Mr Wells hopes to become the first lung transplant recipient to complete the Kokoda Trail.
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