After experiencing an early Sunday morning riddled with tornado, thunderstorm and flash flood warnings, Ann Arbor saw the clouds stretch apart and the sun peak out in time for the start of the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run.

The event touted 6,949 participants, the most in the run’s 37-year history.

Of the near-7,000 runners, only an elite few snapped the winner’s banner stretched across the finish line on Main Street in downtown Ann Arbor. And each runner - along with the rest of the field - had to trudge uphill to get there.

“The end was challenging, especially since its uphill,” said Stephen Muturi, who won the men’s half-marathon in a time of 1 hour, 6 minutes and 35 seconds.
“But,” the Rochester resident added, “I love running up hills.”

Tracy Lokken of Marquette, who claimed the men’s USATF 10K Masters in 31:38, shared Muturi’s sentiments.

“I love an uphill finish as long as I’m feeling good,” smiled Lokken, who finished 32nd at the Boston Marathon this past April.

Lokken likened the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run course to one he ran a month ago for a 5k in Maine, which, naturally, better prepared him for Sunday’s race.

“Maine is all hills. It was a tough course like this,” he said. “I was ready. I felt good. I knew last week my legs would start coming around.”

Additionally, the 10K women’s champion, Kelly Morgan admitted, “I’m more of a hills person, I hate flat (running).”

Morgan, who hails from Rochester, finished first in 39:50.

Of course, not every winner held such heavy admiration for slope-heavy running.

“I like flat surfaces better,” admitted the women’s 5K winner, Erin Webster, a former cross country and track athlete for the University of Michigan.

“But you have to take what you can get,” continued the Dearborn resident, who clocked in at 16:50. “There are down hills to every uphill.”

Hills weren’t the only obstacle Webster overcame Sunday.

“I was a late register. I was being wish-washy (about signing up),” she confessed. “I can’t thank the sponsors enough for being so accommodating.”

Webster registered the night (Saturday) before the race.

“I did a half-marathon last weekend. I was thinking maybe my legs were going to be too tired,” she said. “Then I was like, I’ll just do it. Stop over-thinking it.”

Aiding her decision was her adoration for the host city.

“Anything that occurs in Ann Arbor I’m always a fan of and partial to,” she said.

Clocking first-place times in their home town were Tom Fitzsimmons, who won the men’s Masters 10K (37:47), and Deion Pruitt, who took the men’s 5K (15:55).

For the 19-year old Pruitt, it was his first time running the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run, or any 5K race for that matter.

“I just wanted to feel everything out, stay with the lead runners and then when I saw the finish line, try to kick it in,” explained Pruitt, a Huron High School graduate who competes for the Albion College track and field team. The former River Rat recently set an Albion freshmen school record in the 5,000 meter run (15:06.03).

“It felt really good - not bad for my first race.”

An additional local win came from Ypsilanti’s Sue Parks, who claimed the women’s Masters 5K (20:31).

Rounding out victories in the half-marathon were women’s winner Claudia Nero of Hopewell Junction (1:18.49), women’s Masters champ Lisa Veneziano of Fenton (1:23.49) and men’s masters winner David Chomet of Berkley (1:13.31). Meanwhile, Glen Ashlock claimed the hand cycle title in 50:13.

Other wins came from Grass Lake’s Michael Holik in the men’s Masters 5K (16:26), Cedar Park’s Zachary Ornelas in the men’s 10K (31:36) and Brighton’s Jennifer Smith in the women’s Masters 10K (41:10).

For complete Dexter-Ann Arbor Run results, click here.

Kaleb Roedel is a sports writer for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734)623-2562 and e-mailed at kalebroedel@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kaleb_R.