While it may not have been high noon at the OK Corral, the favorites showed exactly why they were favorites at Sunday's Willie Nelson's 10K for Farm Aid, presented by New Balance.
New Balance athletes Rod DeHaven and Blake Russell showed their heels to the field to claim the top overall male and female prizes. DeHaven, a former Olympian, made short work of the men's race in 30 minutes and 36 seconds. Local runner Pete Belman and Corpus Christi's Gabe Lucido scored silver and bronze in 32:23 and 32:43, while another former Olympian, Mark Coogan, was relegated to fourth overall in 33:01.
The 27-year-old Russell, noted by event director John Conley as an "up-and-comer" prior to the event, showed that her time may be now as her 34:07 clocking easily dispatched all the women -- and left her behind only six men at the tape.
Some 4,000 people participated in the 10K and Mosey, including Willie himself and Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Afterwards, everyone was treated to an all-day concert with Willie as the featured act.
