Former world champion runner Greg Gustafson out-sprinted fellow local runner Roland Neururer on Saturday to take out the 31km Round Rarotonga Road Race – 13 years after he last won the event.

The duo ran toe-to-toe from the start of the race at 5.30am until the very end of the course when a huge sprint battle was seen as the pair rounded into the Punanga Nui market.

Neururer seemed to have the edge as he led the sprint but out of nowhere, Gustafson found renewed energy taking off like a rocket to cross the line first in a time of 2.15.32 followed a painful seven seconds later by Neururer.

Neururer’s time was his personal best for the race.

Ever the sportsman, Neururer bore no grudge against Gustafson who congratulated the local half marathon runner saying, “Roland had a fantastic race and he deserved to win.”

In fact, it had crossed Gustafson’s mind during the mad final sprint that he and Neururer should cross the line together – but he didn’t have the chance to ask Neururer during those last frenzied seconds of racing.

“It was a fantastic race,” gasped Neururer as he ripped into a spiel about his race.

“It was so great to have someone like Greg push you and he pushed me the whole way.”

Gustafson, who is from America and once owned a local fishing charter, is also the current record holder (45 minutes) of the Nutters coast to coast cross island race which to be staged on Wednesday.

He will be taking on the challenge again.

The first part of the race saw UK runner Dexter Haywood with a 400m lead on a chasing pack of four runners which included Neururer, Gustafson, returning Kiwi runner Steve McDonald and Scott Howley.

As the runners headed west Dexter continued to increase his lead on the chasing pack but by Titikaveka, Neururer lead the charge in pulling in Dexter until the chasing pack took the lead.

And by the time the front runners reached Matavera primary school – Neururer and Gustafson had clearly established themselves as the race leader.

Third place getter Scott Musgrave of the USA was also a former winner of the race back in 2001 and set a great time of 2.18.07.

Without her usual road race rival, Vanessa Palmer had little challenge in the women’s division of the race coming home sixth overall and first woman in at the time of 2.29.06 – two minutes behind partner Rhys Woodger who had a fantastic race to place fifth overall.

Second placed woman was Sarah Anderson with a time of 2.42.20 while Harriet Carr ran under the Cook Islands banner to be third woman home in a time of 2.47.12.

Palmer’s usual rival Kelly Pick didn’t race the 31km due to a niggling shin injury that has prevented her from running for five weeks.

But she just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to run and joined the 10km from Muri.

She blitzed the course in a sizzling 43 minutes and seven seconds followed two minutes later by husband and beach volleyball player Brendon Heath.

Twelve-year-old Charles Wicks was the first junior runner across the line in the 10km race crossing the line together with Rob Buick for a share time of 56.33.

Wynton Richards (10) was the youngest runners in the 10km race while 14-year-old Beatrice Rongo was the youngest runner in the 31km race around the island finishing in a credible time of 3.37.39.

Overall it was another fantastic morning of racing on the Rarotonga roads and although the main race is over – the week of running continues with the Hash Birthday today (Monday), Round the Rock Relay tomorrow and the Nutters coast to coast cross island run on Wednesday. - MW

Results, page 11.

Photos, page 9.