The 48th City2Surf marks its place in NT athletics history with a female runner finishing second overall for the first time

The iconic City2Surf race has been run and won in sensational style by first time women’s winner Milly Clark and back-to-back men’s champion Tim Hewitt

Women’s winner Milly Clark does a victory run with men’s winner Tim Hewitt after Sunday’s 2021 City2Surf race was run and won. Picture: Glenn Campbell

RACE records and big entry numbers dominated Sunday’s 48th running of the iconic City2Surf foot race from the Darwin Esplanade to Nightcliff beach.

More than 1800 race entries and big spectator numbers beat the COVID lockdown by six hours and the clock in spectacular fashion.

Australian Olympian and marathon runner Milly Clarke showed her class by covering the 12km distance in 43 minutes 15 seconds, a whopping four minutes quicker than any other woman in the long history of the race.

The fast time also placed her second overall in the big field of runners, less than a minute behind men’s winner Tim Hewitt.

It was Clark’s first run in the Top End and she made it count with a power display of distance running.

“I’m really happy with that run and it was nice to run in the warm weather,’’ Tasmanian Clark said post-race.

“It’s the first time I’ve done this, the race always had a nice breeze and I’ve got the Gold Coast Marathon next weekend, so this was a nice little tune-up for that.’’

Clark has bypassed the Tokyo Olympics despite qualifying for the women’s marathon where she finished a creditable 18th at the Rio Games five years ago.

“There is just going to be a whole new atmosphere over there, so I decided to stay at home and run in some local races,’’ she said.

Men’s winner Tim Hewitt claimed back-to-back race wins after his triumph last year and second place in 2019.

“The weather this year was great, a big turnaround from 2020 when the conditions were a lot warmer due to the September date,’’ Sydney-born Hewitt said.

“It (42:14) is probably my slowest time so far, but I’m just happy to come away with a win in the end of what is a great race.

“I do look forward to it and live just down the road from the finish line so you’ll see me here again after being in Darwin for a couple of years now.’’