The Superweave event is all about speed — for both the handler and dog.

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — Even with four legs, it is mind-boggling to think a dog can weave like greased lightening through a tight maze of 36 poles, dash through a pipe tunnel, and sail through the air across three sets of hurdles in under 30 seconds.

But that is exactly what the top dogs did to medal at the inaugural ESPN Great Outdoor Games Agility Superweave.

"This event is all about speed," said Shane McConnell, dog analyst for the Great Outdoor Games. "What we have done here is add a new dimension of excitement to the agility dog competition with this event."

Shetland Sheepdogs took all three medals in the Small Dog class. Jag won the gold in a blistering 21.235 seconds. The silver went to Taz and handler Jean LaValley of Murfreesboro, Tenn. after a time of 22.82 seconds. Taking the bronze in an exciting photo finish was Shimmer and owner Barbara Davis of Newman Lake, Wash.

This competition features a scaled back agility course designed for maximum speed. Teams of dogs and handlers compete in head-to-head format in a two-dog brace. The team in each bracket to fishing the course first and with the fewest faults advanced to the medal round.

Jag is the pride of Erin Schaefer of Phoenixville, Penn.

"This competition definitely calls for the handler to be in top running shape," surmised Schaefer. "It is really a test of endurance for both dog and handler."

In the Large Dog class, Border Collies ruled in the medal round. Luz and handler Olga Chaiko took the gold medal. Raina and Lacey, two collies handled by Darrell Bommarito took the silver and bronze medals, respectively. Bommarito is a glass technician from Sterling Heights, Mich.

"The key to winning this was beyond a doubt the handling and teamwork," said Chaiko, a professional agility trainer from North Hollywood, Calif. "Without us both working together there is no way to compete against these dogs."