Forgetfulness pays off for 2012 Peace Race winner in Youngstown

October 21, 2012 at 6:45p.m.

By GREG GULAS

sports@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

The 2012 Youngstown Peace Race winner used Las Cruces, New Mexico, as his training ground.

Forgetting his racing shoes and having to use his training shoes might just have been the blessing in disguise that he needed to cross the finish line first.

Julius Bor (29:54.2) broke out early and along with Luke Grau, Andrew Carnes, Andy Morgan and Aiman Scullian, remained the pacesetters and in the front of the pack for the first 5-plus miles.

It was during the last 1.2 miles that Bor’s kick could not be matched by the others en-route to his first Peace Race victory.

“My strategy was to start out and remain in the front of the pack, knowing full well that I would have to execute the last 200 meters if I expected to win,” Bor said. Training and preparing in New Mexico really helped me out quite a bit,” Bor said.

“I saw Aiman [Scullian] coming on strong at the end and had to really push it that last mile or so. I pushed it hard once we hit the ground on Federal Street. Next time I hope I can remember to bring my racing shoes.”

Andrew Carnes, the 2010 winner, set the early pace by running a 4:46 mile for lead at the mile marker, duplicating that time for the lead two miles into the race and a pack of five that included Bor, second-place finisher Scullian and Luke Grau, who finished third.

About 2,100 people competed in Peace Race events Sunday, an increase of about 300 over the 2011 race.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.