Pete Maksimow (in the cap) won a gift certificate to the Boulder Running Company after setting a new course record of 29 minutes, 47 seconds in the Canya Cañon 6K Run for the Cub Trail Race on Sunday.

PHOTOS: Canya Cañon photo gallery
VIDEO: Start of the Canya Cañon, lead runners
VIDEO: Start of Canya Cañon, mid-pack

With only a few strides remaining in the Canya Cañon 6K Run for the Cub Trail Race, 12-year-old Kayli Tabares found a friend.

Tabares had climbed the twisting and steep Columbine Trail with the race's fastest women runners, but her legs were burning.

That's when Amanda Ewing, the race leader, looked back and offered some encouragement.

"Come on Kayli, don't let me beat you," Ewing said. "You can do it."

With 20-yards to run, Tabares made her move and passed Ewing at the line to take the win in 40 minutes, 40 seconds. Ewing was given the same time, half a step behind.

"I think she let me win," Tabares said. "But it means a lot. She was pushing me on the uphills because I was starting to slow down. She was just telling me to breathe in and out."

Ewing, 30, of Colorado SPrings, swears Tabares won fair and square.

"She is really something else," Ewing said. "She is going to be great if she stays with it."

Jaclyn Roberson rounded out the top three in the women's race, finishing in 41:21.

Pete Maksimow claimed the overall win with a course record time of 29:47. Gerald Romero, Tabares' coach and the 2009 and 2010 Canya Cañon winner, was second in 31:02. Brad Poppele finished third in 33:54.

But everyone wanted to talk about Tabares, the Russell Middle School girl who recently started to outrun her father.

"She beat me by two minutes today," said Travis Tabares.

Tabares competed in middle school track and field this fall, claiming the district championship in the mile run. She has a personal best mile time of 5:42. She has a half marathon best 1:53. Like many talented young runners, she has big plans.

"I want to be an Olympian," she said. "I want to be like (Olympic marathon trials qualifier) Caroline White."

Until then, she'll enjoy running, winning, and even beating the boys.

"It makes me feel good that I can beat people in my age group, the girls and the boys," she said.