Former UMass Lowell distance runner Ruben Sanca was crowned the Cape Verde National Champion after winning the Corrida de Sao Silvestre, last week, in Praia, the nation's capital city.
 
Sanca completed the hilly 11 kilometer course in a time of 33-minutes and 19-seconds, 43-seconds ahead of second place finisher Sérgio Dias.  Samuel Freire finished third in a time of 34:35.
 
"It's really great to win in front of the home crowd," said Sanca.  "I get really attached, more and more, to families each time I race in Cape Verde.  It's important to be able to compete well at these types of races as they are key factors to representing Cape Verde abroad."
 
Sanca ran with the lead pack in the early stages of the race taking the lead for good around the 5K mark as the course became more hilly.
 
"I used my momentum and maintained the pace (as the course became uphill.)" said Sanca.  "(Dias and Freire) slowly fell back and I made sure never to look back." 
 
At the 7K mark Sanca extended his lead.  "I pushed the uphills as hard as I could."
 
The 2009 graduate of UMass Lowell said he was surprised that the race was not moiré hotly contested but credited his training.
 
"I was surprised I was able to get away so quick, early in the race," said Sanca.  "Given the credentials of the other runners I was expecting a tighter race.  However, I was also very confident in my training coming into the race."
 
Sanca was a member of the UMass Lowell cross country and track and field teams from 2005 through 2010.  He was a four time All American and represented Cape Verde in the 5,000 meters at the London 2012 Olympics.
 
He is expected to participate in the Lusophone Games in India later this month.