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Thirty-four Yukon runners braved a downpour yesterday afternoon to race in the annual Yukon Cross Country Championships.

Competitors of all ages earned medals for their efforts, courtesy of Athletics Yukon.

Twenty-two runners competed in the Under-12 category, thanks in large part to Cross Country Yukon鈥檚 purple ski squad, many of whom ran wearing purple superhero capes.

Other than that, competition was hard to find.

Special Olympics runner Darby McIntyre鈥檚 excellent week continued as he led the field around the course during his two laps.

The recent World Summer Games nominee set the pace and eventually won his age group by churning out four kilometres in 18:02.

The 14-year-old said running in the rain never hurt anyone.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just worth it because it鈥檚 just good sports,鈥� he said post-race.

鈥淚t鈥檚 better when you鈥檙e running because you鈥檙e pretty warm ... It鈥檚 fun and it鈥檚 good exercise.

鈥淚 had a few cramps, but I鈥坆asically did jogs and sprints.鈥�

Scott Williams won the Masters eight-km event in 36:54.

The 43-year-old said he enjoys trail running and tries to hit every cross-country event that he can.

鈥淲e wanted to go berry picking today, so we figured this would be a good catalyst to get us out into the rain,鈥� the 43-year-old said.

鈥淚 just like to run in the rain, so if it鈥檚 just a Thursday night trail run with people or one of these timed events, it鈥檚 just fun to go to,鈥濃�圵illiams added.

鈥淯sually if it鈥檚 cold and rainy, I鈥坓o faster. It鈥檚 just a matter of staying warm and getting a good warm-up at the start ... Once you鈥檙e running, it鈥檚 fantastic.鈥�

While total numbers were up from just 16 runners last year, organizer Don White said he was disappointed no one showed up to run in the open classes (age 20 to 34).

鈥淚t鈥檚 always disappointing,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was kind of rotten, but ... you鈥檇 like people to come out, regardless of the weather.

鈥淚t really depends on the year. Some years we鈥檝e had 40 or 50 people at the championships.鈥�

This year鈥檚 course was set up as a two-km loop. Runners ran up to five laps, depending on their age and gender.

鈥淭he loop involved ups and downs and flats,鈥濃�圵hite explained.

Other age category winners included Masters runners Tom Ullyett and Maura Sullivan, while Dahlia Lapointe earned the female U-14 trophy.

Youth winners included Thomas Bakica, Kate Mason, Luke Cozens, Constance Lapointe, Nicolas Freeman and Gregory Freeman.

Full results should be posted on the Athletics Yukon website this week.

In other local running news, national team runner Lindsay Carson was the third Canadian woman to finish the Oasis Zoo Run with a time of 34:31 Saturday.

Meanwhile, Kieran Halliday debuted for the University of British Columbia cross-country team at the Sundodger Invitational in Seattle Saturday, finishing 73rd in the eight-km event.