There was a third overall record broken in the 72-hour division, a family atmosphere, and little champagne poured at the annual Across The Years run at Camelback Ranch in Arizona on New Year's Eve. 

Joe Fejes ran 267 laps and 280.2966 miles for a first place finish in the 72-hour division at the event. 

"The record is around 277 to 278 miles in a 72-hour race," said Nick Coury, who's been race director with his brother, Jamil, for the past two seasons. 

"He was shooting for that and wasn't far off." 

Coury added that he believed it's the third most miles ran in a 72-hour time period. 

The new location of Across The Years may have helped Fejes chase this record.

"The race went really well this year and it was fun running the event," said Coury.

"We moved to the new location, Camelback Ranch, which is 500 metres longer than the track in previous years. It was a lot more scenic, the track runs next to a lake and through grassy areas and around a ballpark." 

The ballpark is a baseball spring training facility. 

"The new venue was a good transition. The spirit of the event is a real family feel, and with the changes that were made the runners were still able to preserve that feeling," he explained. 

The race drew in over 250 runners that wanted to celebrate New Year's Eve by sharing a moment with their fellow racers.  

"We had runners who participated in the event in the 1980s and some rookies," said Coury. 

"All these different people were having fun. It's a fun way to spend new years."

Among the veteran racers, Anna Piskorska, who has been trying out for the U.S. 24-hour race team, ran 117 laps and 122.8266 miles in the one-day race. Tom Jackson ran 187.9142 miles and 179 laps for first place in the 48-hour race. 

To celebrate the stroke of midnight into 2012, a little ceremony was participated in to make everyone feel welcome. 

"Everyone gathers up at the start line and we pass around little glasses of champagne. Everyone does the course together and wishes each other a happy new year," said Coury. 

 

 

 

 

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