Simon Craddock took the plaudits as he was the first to cross the line in the 2017 Lichfield Half Marathon.
The Serpentine RC athlete came home in a time of 1:19:59 in the closest finish the race has seen since it began in 2011.
Craddock and Jack Greenwood broke away from the field in the final mile before a late sprint in the final few hundred metres on Stowe Field.
Elsewhere, Rachel Burchell was the first woman home in a time of 1:28:11, with Wendy Mullineux second and Michelle Stammers third.
A spokesperson for organisers KP Events said: “There was a large crowd on Stowe Field under the gaze of the magnificent Lichfield Cathedral to welcome the runners home and make the event another fantastic day for Lichfield.”