JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- More than 7,000 people completed the 15K (9.3 mile) course for the 26th Annual Gate River Run Saturday, with the top finishers being familiar names in the sport.

Meb Keflezighi, 26, of Chula Vista, Calif., crossed the finish line at 43:31 to win this his third-straight Gate River Run. Abdi Abdirahman, 25, of Tucson, Ariz., ran shoulder-to-shoulder with Keflezighi for the first four miles, then started falling back and finished the race second at 43:59.

""For me, it would have been possible to get a record today, but with the wind, I was a little challenging and (I) didn't get it," Keflezighi said.

Perhaps the bigger story is top women's finisher -- Deena Drossin, 29, of Mammoth Lakes, Calif. -- which finished at 47:15. Not only was this her fourth-straight River Run victory, but she bettered the U.S. 15K record by almost one minute.

"I didn't think I'd run this fast 'cause it was a little breezy out there, but I think it was just cool enough that I was able to stay hydrated out there and pull ahead," Drossin said.

The top Jacksonville finisher was Zepherinus Joseph, 27, who completed the course 8th overall at 44.57.

The starter's gun sounded at 8:39 a.m. for the more than 8,000 runners -- a field that included scores of elite runners, including nine Olympians.

It took more than four minutes for all the runners to cross the start line.

Ten-year-old Hunter Hayes finished the race in the top 1,000.

"You should come out here to have fun, because if you focus on the race too much, you won't run a good time," Hunter (pictured, left) said. "It all depends on what you're thinking, how your mind is set. "My goal next year is to get under an hour."

Video

See all the finishers on 'Finish-Line Cam' Images of Gate River Run

Not only is this the largest particpation sporting event in Jacksonville, but it is the USA 15K Championship and draws a international field of contestants.

"This is the deepest field I've every seen an any road race in competition," Drossin told Channel 4's Sam Kouvaris. "Word is spreading that this is a first-class race and people keep coming back for more. Thank you Jacksonville. You're wonderful support out there."

Complete Race Results.