Four Tanzanian athletes led the field: John Msuri, who won in 40min 24sec, followed by Rogat Stephen, Tlehema Benedict and Daniel Sipe.

Once Heartbreak Hill was out of the way, nothing could stop him. Mr [Philip Rabinowitz] pushed the pram of his youngest great grandson, two-month-old Liron, for the final downhill kilometres of the race.

THE oldest runner in yesterday’s City to Surf may have completed the race almost 2 1/2 after the winner, but 97-year-old Philip Rabinowitz couldn’t have been more delighted.

“Is it already finished?” he asked as he crossed the finishing line at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.

This was Mr Rabinowitz’s second attempt at the 14km race. He first completed it when he was 95 and hopes to do it again next year.

He travelled from South Africa to run with three other generations of his Sydney-based family. He finished the course in 199 minutes and there were plenty of people coming in behind him.

Later, he was still full of beans.

“The race was excellent,” he said. “I never expected to be able to do the race as I did.”

Like many another, Mr Rabinowitz was a little daunted by the infamous Heartbreak Hill rising out of Rose Bay, the steepest stretch ofthe course.

“I thought someone would have to come and get me,” he said.

But once Heartbreak Hill was out of the way, nothing could stop him. Mr Rabinowitz pushed the pram of his youngest great grandson, two-month-old Liron, for the final downhill kilometres of the race.

“I did the race to be with my family and I am very, very happy about it,” he said. “It was absolutely fantastic for me. I feel like I could do another race.”

A record 56,625 entrants ran in the 31st City to Surf yesterday in almost perfect weather. The long-standing women’s record for theevent also tumbled: Susie Power, 26, broke Lisa Ondieki’s 1988 race record by just under half a minute, running the course in 45min .08sec.

Her brother Michael Power came fifth, and was the first-placed Australian.

Four Tanzanian athletes led the field: John Msuri, who won in 40min 24sec, followed by Rogat Stephen, Tlehema Benedict and Daniel Sipe.