Not even road congestion created by swarms of Christmas tree hunters could stop Domico Watson cruising to victory in the Northshore Medical Centre Turkey Trot 8K road race.

Demonstrating remarkable energy as he chalked up his second race of the weekend, Watson, 28, made his intentions clear from the start as he set the pace with Moses Mufandaedza and Iziah Tucker in close company.

The race competitors found themselves with an unexpected line of early morning spectators on North Shore Road, near the Empire Grocery store, who were waiting to purchase Christmas trees. There was also a police presence to control traffic congestion in the immediate vicinity.

Watson took the unusual scene it in his stride and stuck to the task. His relentless pace of 5 min 42 sec miles left him with only Mufandaedza for company by the time the final mile was reached. Watson, who had finished third overall among the adult men in the National Cross Country Championships the previous day, showed no signs of fatigue as he pulled away to win 28 mins 19 secs.

Mufandaedza was second in 28:33, with teenager Tucker, who was the U20 champion at the cross country event on Saturday, next across the line in 29:29.

Martina Olcheski-Bell was first among the women in 33:47, followed by Laura Graham in 34:23, and Bonnie Mills in 35:35.

There were 61 finishers in the 8K race, with athletes having to wear face masks on the start line, and being set off in four waves separated by two minute intervals. Race times were calculated using chip timing.

In conjunction with the running event, an 8K walk was held on the same course. The first walker to finish was L. Sinah Simons in 56:19, followed by Junior Watts in 60:11. Third home, and first woman, was Gilda Cann 63:22.