Olympian David McNeill blitzes Burnie 10 field
London Olympian David McNeill has taken out the 30th annul Burnie 10 after leading throughout the race on Tasmania's north-west coast.
The 28-year-old Victorian and his training partner Brett Robinson dominated Sunday's event, taking out first and second place.
McNeill pulled ahead to finish in 29 minutes and two seconds, followed by Robinson 20 seconds later.
McNeill said it was a tough run.
"I came in just trying to work on a few mental games in my head and try and put aside that doubt and just embrace the pain, because it doesn't matter how good you are, a 29 minute 10k on the road isn't easy, so I'm really proud of it," he said.
Dutch runner Susan Kuijken won her first 10-kilometre race in the women's, dashing Nikki Chapple's hopes of winning the event for the third year in a row.
The Melbourne-based Kuijken said it was tough running a longer distance.
"I run 5k's on the track and I come from the 1,500," she said.
"Two years ago I didn't even do 5k so I've moved on so far in three years, still not sure if I really like the 10k but I guess if I train for it it should feel a bit better."
Tasmanian Matthew Brumby won the elite wheelchair race.
About 3,100 people took part in the anniversary race, which is down on previous years.
Race director Rick Ferguson said the entry numbers ebb and flow, and organisers were satisfied with the field.
"We're still the premier race of our kind in Tasmania and I think to have the numbers we've got, maintain the numbers we've got - 3,000 to 4,000 - I think that's a testament to the people involved," he said.
The victorious runners each won $4,000 in prize money.
