STAR Bendigo athlete Andy Buchanan has added a third Dragon Mile triumph to his star-studded resume and says he is already hungry for a fourth after claiming victory in Sunday's feature.
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Buchanan, who previously won the race in 2015 and '16, beat home a crack field in Sunday's race, to win in a slick time of 4:18.
The distance champion and 2018 H.H Hunter Bendigo region athlete of the year beat home fellow elite distance runner Brady Threlfall, with Buchanan's mate Connor Stevenson, from New South Wales, third ahead of Archie Reid and Luke Padgham.
Thelfall is a also a former winner, having won the unique street-race in 2013.
In the women's event, Whitney Sharpe foiled Teleah Hayes' bid for a fourth-straight Dragon Mile win after crossing the line first in 4:54.
Hayes had to be content with second, with Bendigo's Sophie Hawken, who will head to Spain shortly for the world triathlon championships, in third. Melissa Doyle was fourth.
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The win was part of a big weekend for Sharpe, who last year became the first athlete to be crowned women's national mile champion in 25 years with a win at Bankstown.
She is also competing at Stawell and headed straight back to the Wimmera town after Sunday's race.
"It was tough up that (View Street) hill because I knew Teleah was right behind me and obviously had the whole home crowd (behind her), but I just tried to push hard," Sharpe said.
"It was an awesome crowd, I wasn't expecting this at all when we rocked up ... it's huge.
"The crowd was really good, but apart from that I kept hearing Teleah's name; I might have to get some of my own people (in the crowd) next time."
Buchanan could not hide his delight at securing another hard-won victory in his 'home race' and vowed to be back whenever he could for a tilt at further Dragon Mile success.
"I haven't been doing a lot of quick stuff recently, so it (the run) definitely hurt," he said.
"Normally I am doing 10km type of stuff - a mile on the road is so different to doing anything on the track.
"It's a unique race, there's nothing like it. You never know how you are going to feel going up the hill and then you come down the hill and the straight here is a lot longer than you think.
"It definitely gets the lungs going."
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Zali Drummond and Luke Padgham were the respective winners of the female and male year 11/12 sections, which were run in conjunction with the open race.
In other highlights, Ballarat's Jack Diamond went back-to-back with a win in the year 9/10 boys, while visiting Melbourne athlete Chelsea Whittle, from Bentleigh Secondary College, won the year 7/8 girls, with her Bendigo cousin Tash Dean in third place.
First to win a sash was Renee Ford in the primary girls race.
The youngster from Moorabbin Little Athletics Centre, who was lining up in her first Dragon Mile, was holidaying with family in Rushworth when she decided to enter the event.
"It was a little bit hard when you get to the end and the start was tough too as it's hard to get through everyone and you are a bit boxed in," she said.
"I was hoping to come first, second or third, but not really expecting to win.
"I said to myself before the race I would be super-happy if I won and now I am super-happy and happy we came."
Ford will now turn her attention to the cross country season.
Dragon Mile winners
Open men: Andy Buchanan 1; Brady Thelfall 2; Connor Stevenson 3.
Open women: Whitney Sharpe 1; Teleah Hayes 2; Sophie Hawken 3.
Year 11/12 men: Luke Padgham 1; Josh Whittle 2; Taine Lang 3.
Year 11/12 women: Zali Drummond 1; Lauren White 2.
Over 40: Melissa Douglas (women); Mike Bieleny (men).
Year 9/10 boys: Jack Diamond 1; Ben Ludbrook 2; Floyd Cartner 3.
Year 9/10 girls: Tullie Rowe 1; Bethany Dean 2; Jazlin Fear 3.
Year 7/8 boys: Jayden Padgham 1; Logan Tickell 2; William Chant 3.
Year 7/8 girls: Chelsea Whittle 1; Megan Wilson 2; Tash Dean 3.
Grade 5/6 boys: Thomas McArthur 1; Kobi McDonald 2; Tanner Fear 3.
Grade 5/6 girls: Chloe Johnstone 1; Chelsea Tickell 2; Abbey Cartner 3.
Primary boys: Jordan Matthews 1; Joel Riordan 2; Sebastian Freer 3.
Primary girls: Renee Ford 1; Kate Wilson 2; Mia Clark 3.
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