Nevada Day: Twain and plane sweep Nevada Day run

Samuel Clemens made an impressive showing Saturday racing in the 21st annual Carson Nugget Nevada Day Classic.

"I haven't felt this good in decades," he said. "Rumors of my running demise have been greatly exaggerated."

Erick Studenicka, 44, dressed as the famous Comstock storyteller and won Best Costume in the 8K race.

It came down to a fight at the finish line between Clemens and Bob Marley.

"I thought, I can't let Sam Clemens beat me," said Adam Young, 17, a member of the Virginia City High School cross country team, who dressed as Bob Marley for the race. "He was running backwards and twirling around, but I still couldn't beat him. But I guess it was Nevada Day and not Jamaica Day."

But even Clemens couldn't outrun Carson City's Henares Mendez, 44, who placed first in the 40-49 age group and overall for the 8K.

Despite his win, Mendez said, his performance wasn't up to par.

"The cold makes me run slower," he said.

For the two-mile event, Bill Hartman took Best Costume dressed an airplane in honor of this year's Nevada Day theme celebrating 100 years of aviation history.

He was not available to accept his award, however, because he was marching with the Boy Scouts in the parade.

Race director Tom Wion said the run was a success.

"It went great," he said. "The weather held, and you can't expect better than that."

He said he was pleased with the amount of runners who showed up in costume and hopes to see more next year.