VIDEO: Speedy dog sprints alongside lead runner at cross-country race

West Regional's are heating up. Tight race for first. pic.twitter.com/5Nl0MbL8p9

— Leah O'Connor (@LeahKayO) November 11, 2016

The NCAA West Regional Cross-Country Championships had an unexpected leader on Friday. What appears to be a Pomeranian found its way onto the course at Haggin Oaks Golf Course in Sacramento, Calif. and was the star of the 10K for a good 30 seconds, according to eyewitnesses.

The leading runner, who had a five-second gap on the pack at the time, is seen setting the pace with a small canine running by his side. Impressively, the dog maintained a safe distance from the cross-country runner and didn’t trip him up.

RELATED: VIDEO: Competitors help exhausted cross-country runner finish race.

The video, shot by professional runner Leah O’Connor, has been shared more than 750 times since yesterday’s series of events. “West Regionals are heating up,” the tweet reads. “Tight race for first.”

According to O’Connor, the dog got scooped up shortly after ending his or her bid for the race win.

Poor pupper got scooped up about 30 seconds later. According to my sources she still ran a significant personal best tho.

— Leah Falland (O’Connor) (@LeahKayO) November 12, 2016

The leading runner at the time, Cal Poly’s Swarnjit Boyal, faded back to 51st place in the men’s 10K championship race. Oregon’s Edward Cheserek won the race in 29:23.7.

RELATED: Justyn Knight continues cross-country tear with Northeast Regional win.

The West Regional Championships are the final event before the NCAA Division One Cross-Country Championships. Charlotte Prouse, who runs for Washington, was the top Canadian at the event finishing 10th in the women’s 6K championships.