The talented youngster claimed his first victory in the fun run’s feature race, pulling clear of runner-up Ash Watson in the concluding stages to secure the gold medal.

He clocked a time of 38:26min to claim the title won by Ballarat’s Chris Beechey last year, with Watson a further six seconds behind in second position.

Fullerton, a member at Eureka Athletic Club and past 6km Run Ballarat champion, told The Courier he was suited better to competitive races between 1500m and 5km, but wanted to test himself this weekend.

“I was coming here to try and get the win. I’ve done the 6km the past couple of years and I thought I’d step it up this year and try and take them on in the longer race,” he said.

The 19-year-old said he raced alongside Watson for much of the race before edging clear shortly before the line.

“We kept at a pretty casual pace early on and me and Ash just worked together for most of the way and it was a bit windy out there,” he said.

“He (Watson) did a marathon last week so it was a bit of an unfair race.”

Fullerton, a multiple state champion on the track, rated Sunday’s win as probably his biggest fun run success.

“It’s a pretty big race and it’s good to do it in your home town for once,” he said.

Karinna Fyfe was the first female runner home in the 12km event, clocking a time of 41:42min to win the race.

She beat last year’s winner Angela Williams, who was second in 44:13min.

Fyfe, from Melbourne, is currently in Ballarat on a three-month stint in the children’s ward at the Ballarat Base Hospital. The ward is the recipient of funds raised from Run Ballarat.

A self-confessed “serial fun runner”, Fyfe said it was the first time she had competed in the annual Ballarat event.

“I sort of tried to go with the boys a bit, but I found myself in no man’s land fairly early on and then I just had to run by myself,” Fyfe said.

“Anytime you get a win is always a highlight.

“I just really enjoy running these community events where you are supporting a good cause – I think that’s really important.”

The quickest competitor across the 12km journey was Campbell Message, who led the small field of wheelchair athletes with a time of 30:19min.

Sunday’s course saw athletes start and race along Sturt Street and then head around Lake Wendouree before finishing at Ballarat High School.