(October 14, 2007) — GREECE — On a visually beautiful day at Grace & Truth Sports Park in North Greece, the sense of sound played a prominent role in victories by Jeff Eggleston and Melissa Converse in the 12th annual Run for Hospice 4-mile race Saturday.

Eggleston, a resident of Greece, edged Fairport's Jeff Beck after the two went back-and-forth for the final half mile.

But it was what the 23-year-old Greece Arcadia graduate heard that helped him down the stretch.

"I heard (Beck) breathing pretty hard so I knew I could work harder," said Eggleston, who finished in a time of 19:15. "There's a slight hill coming toward the finish so that's where I decided to make my move."

Converse, who made the trip from Blacklick, Ohio, held off Fairport's Christa Meyer on the final sprint with a little help from the crowd.

"I knew somebody was coming up on me because I heard people cheering," Converse said after finishing in 22:09. "So I just tried to take off as fast as I could and it ended up being enough."

The men's race turned into a three-man battle right from the start and was whittled down to two around the two-mile mark as Ted Turner of the Indiana Invaders started to drop back.

With the wind a major factor, neither runner wanted to stay in front and deal with it head on, so the two took turns drafting each other over the final mile.

"Because of the wind I was actually a little disappointed in my time," Eggleston said of his first appearance at the Run for Hospice. "I just wanted to not have to battle the wind by myself the whole time so we kind of kept switching up the lead."

Beck may have come up just short in this race, but he has all but sewn up the Rochester Runner of the Year title.

Even if Beck sits out the Webster Turkey Trot on Nov. 22, Mark Andrews would still have to place at least third to force a tie.

The women's race did not have the same implications on the standings as the men's, but the finish was just as exciting.

Emily Tallen was in front at both the one and two-mile markers, but started to fade around three miles.

Meyer and Converse each made the pass before Converse kicked it into another gear.

Two male runners broke off from a small pack and Converse followed them right into the lead to stay.

Meyer made a strong effort in the final sprint but finished in second place by a second.

"I just wish the race were 10 or 15 yards longer because I started my kick early and I kept gaining and gaining but I finished right behind her," Meyer said.

Meyer finished third in last year's race.

CVITO@DemocratandChronicle.com

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