The quick-twitching rabbit turned into the new-face ringer at the 37th annual Sound to Narrows on Saturday.

Stephen Haas, a North Carolina native who now trains in Bloomington, Ind., was the latest standout road racer to be flown across the country by New Balance, the apparel company that is one of the sponsors of the longtime Tacoma event.

Haas, 26, wasted no time taking the lead for good on a cool morning with patches of fog, breaking away on the early downhill portion of the 12-kilometer race. The first-timer easily cruised to the title in 37 minutes, 10 seconds at Vassault Park in north Tacoma.

His 37:10 was the fastest time posted since eight-time Sound to Narrows champion Eric Tollefson went 37:04 in 2001.