The Pikes Peak Road Runners Winter Series No. 2 short-course (4 miles) race became a showcase of some of the top runners in the country Saturday at El Pomar Youth Sports Park.
Robert Cheseret, 27, the reigning National 5K Road champion and a member of the Army's World Class Athlete Program, dashed away from the field to win in 19:58. His teammate, John Mickowski, 27, finished in 20:48. The Boulder Running Company's Robby Young, 25, was third in 20:21. In the women's race, Amanda Ewing, 27, claimed her second win at the series with a time of 25:29. Ruth Waller, 26, of Lake Charles, La., was second in 27:22, followed by Samantha Bauer (17, 27:24.)
In the long race (8-miles), Pueblo West High School senior Mike Cernoia pulled away from Joe McDaniel and Peter Maksimow with two miles to go, and won in 45:40. McDaniel, 28, placed secind in 45:43. Maksimow, 32, who won the first race of the series Jan. 8 on the Cheyenne Mountain State Park trails, finished third in 46:28.
In the women's 8-miler, Stephanie Meredith, 28, claimed her second win of the Winter Series with a time of 55:52. Meredith was also the long-course champ in the 2010 Grand Prix of Running.
Letitia Dusich, 29, was second in 57:28, followed by Cathi Webber (41, 59:32).