Runners gutted out cool temperatures and a difficult course Sunday at the annual Yukon Cross Country championships.

The event was held on the Mount McIntyre Ski Trails and featured 15 participants that were divided up into categories based on age and gender.

The course used was a loop, approximately 1.7-km in distance. Participants were required to compete a certain amount of loops depending on the category they were placed in.

"It was good," said race organizer Don White. "Not as many people as we have had in the past and stuff like that, but at least we had some juniors this time. Last year I think our youngest person was 40."

This was one of Athletics Yukon's final major running events of the season.

Participation on Sunday was $2, which this year included a gift certificate to either Tim Horton's, the Baked Cafe or Star Bucks. Medals were also given out at the race.

White, who also raced on Sunday, said the track used is one of the rougher cross country courses used for a competition because of all of the ups and downs.

Winners on Sunday included Maggie Brook, who was the youngest participant, competing in the seven to nine years old category. Maggie finished her one lap with the great time of 5:17.

One of the highlights at the race was the Brook family, which also had three members not only compete, but win their respected divisions.

Fabian Brook took the 14 to 15 years old, finishing his 3-km distance at 14:35, while Heidi Brook took top spot in the 16 to 17 age category with a time of 26:28.

Brent Langbakk was the only runner to complete five laps, posting a five-lap time of 33:43. Langbakk has participated in the Cross Country Championships sporadically for close to 20 years.

Langbakk, who has been dealing with an akilies injury for the last few months, said it was a difficult race for him.

"It wasn't one of my better race time wise and it was tough, but it's nice to get out and participate and it's great that these guys put it on," he said. "I tried to push myself. I wanted it to be a good workout, so the last lap was tough, but in a way that's sort of the good part. You try to test yourself when you do these things."

Colleen Latham won the open 20 to 34 years old category with a time of 30:49.

The winners of the masters categories were Dave Brook and Sue Bogle. Dave finished with a time of 26:43, while Bogle came in at 24:59.

Tom Ullyett took care of business in the masters two category, finishing in first place with a time of 22:44.

"This is Athletics Yukon sort of marquee event for trail running and it's been a great season of trail running," Ullyett said. "It's interesting you have a full range of people you have national level athletes to little kids. It's a good range of age and it's a good range of skill level."

Sue MacDunn finished with a time of 21 minutes in the masters two category, while Ginny Macdonald placed first overall in the masters three division, with her time of 10:11.

The final Athletics Yukon race of the 2007-08 season will be the Last Gasp, which is being revived after several years of not being held.

The race will take place on Sunday at 1 p.m., with registration being held at 12:30 p.m. at the skating rink parking lot on Nisutlin Drive.

The race will include a five-km loop, which will conclude where it started.

Registration costs $1. There will also be a barbecue and social gathering after the conclusion of the race at the Macdonald's home, which is located on Bates Crescent.

For more information call Ginny Macdonald at 667-7394.