Jason Noriega (left) finsished second behind Nick Krus.

STERLING HEIGHTS (6/11/05) - They might not consider themselves hothouse runners, but Nick Krus and Carrie Burns certainly thrived in the heat at the 29th annual Dodge Park 3.1-Mile Run.

Krus, a St. Clair Shores native who attends Saginaw Valley State University, weathered a strong challenge from Jason Noriega to triumph in 16:27. Noriega, who stayed with Krus till the final mile, came in second (16:33). Patrick Sarver was third in 17:00.

"At 2.5 miles I tried to surge, but it wasn't enough. Then he pulled away from me," Noriega said.

Burns, a recent Sterling Heights Stevenson High School graduate, edged Sarah Powell, a freshman-to-be at Troy High School. Burns finished in 22:12, Powell 22:26. Masters champ Linda Wilson crossed in 23:55.

Moving the race from July to the second Saturday in June did little to cool things off. "The heat was unbearable," said Krus. "I tried making a move at a mile-and-half, but it didn't happen. My legs were like jelly. I got to the two-mile mark and felt better, but my stomach cramped. Luckily I pushed through and got the win."

Burns had a similar experience. "It was hot," she said. "I went out too hard, but I ran tough. I have asthma, so it's hard to breathe sometimes in the heat.'

"Carrie loves the sport and she gives it her all," said Stevenson High School coach Kevin Hanson, who finished sixth overall and first among masters in 17:50.

"I was here in 1977, the first year they had this race," said Hanson, who went on to win Dodge Park many times. "I was a high-school kid chasing down older men back then. Now I'm the old man being chased down by high-school kids."

Race director Michael Kostrzeba said 193 people ran. Sponsors were the Sterling Heights Parks and Recreation Department, Macomb Heart & Rehabilitation Institute, Sterling Heights Community Foundation, Trent Design and Hansons Running Shop. MR