Whitehorse distance runner Shane Carlos ran to an impressive victory in the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) Region #1 Cross Country Championships in Portland, Ore., last weekend.

Carlos, now a member of the University of British Columbia Cross Country Team, won the 8-kilometre race with a final finishing kick that took him past Simon Fraser University (Vancouver) runner Simon Kant.

His winning time of 25 minute and 48 seconds was one second ahead of his rival.

Also representing the Yukon on the University of British Columbia team was Carlos' brother, Luke, who finished in a time of 28 minutes and 24 seconds, placing 66th in the 109-man field.

The two brothers have been steadily improving during their past two years on the UBC men's team. Shane's victory, however, was something of an upset and a major breakthrough in his running career.

Shane bested a field of top collegiate runners from Canadian and American universities, leading his UBC T-birds to the overall team victory as well.

In doing so, Shane has qualified for the NAIA National Championships in Louisville, Kentucky this weekend.

He'll be competing against collegiate runners from the United States and Canada, as well as elite Kenyan distance runners currently attending school in the U.S.