Athletes clad in yellows, blues and reds blew on their hands and jogged lightly to stay warm prior to the 8-km Casablanca Classic, the last race of the 2008 Subaru Running Series.

But just prior to the pistol start, all 467 runners became still when race director Jerry Friesen requested a minute of silence.

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the race, Friesen told the group that from 2008 forward, this race will be run in honour of those who paid the price for our freedom.

"I think it's a great way to recognize the guys who gave the ultimate sacrifice for us, and the guys who are in Afghanistan right now," he said. "It's something small that we can do to give some recognition to those guys."

After Aisha Johnston sang the anthem and five Legion members displayed the colours, the runners were in business.

While the veterans and onlookers walked across the street to warm up over Tim Hortons coffee, the runners set the pace down Winston Road to Fifty Point Conservation Area and back.

Less than 24 minutes later, winner Derek Nakluski of Kitchener crossed the finish line. He finished second in last year's race.

"This is a great temperature for racing," he said following his win. "It's a fast, flat course and I like that concept."

He kept pace with two Kenyan runners before taking the lead for good with a kilometre left in the run.

Perennial favourite Josephat Ongeri of Kenya finished fourth, 25 seconds after Nakluski. He also ran the 42-km Road2Hope marathon last Sunday.

"Josephat Ongeri ran a marathon last week so his legs were tired," said Friesen. "And I knew Derek had it in him."

"Running something like that takes something out of your legs," Nakluski said of his rival Ongeri.

The top local finisher was Vineland's John Albers, 25th overall.

Top local female finisher was Sandra Rebek of Grimsby, 113th overall. Kenya's Agnes Ngunjiri was tops for the ladies, 26th overall.

Youngster Joshua Turner of Grimsby won the two-km fun run prior to the race, running a quick 8:50.

About 200 of the nearly 500 participants were local runners.

"It's exciting to see, 10 years later, the growth of this race," said Friesen.

"It was a great year. Grimsby is a great place. It really is."