Four new age group records were set -- and there was a dead heat in one of the new categories -- as a record 174 youngsters took part in the Ocean Spray 3K race on Sunday at Saltus Field.

The race was the third of the KPMG Kids Running Series, the next of which will be the MRM Five Flat Miler to be held on March 7 from Police Club in Somerset.

Shellicia McKenzie of Purvis knocked 49 seconds off Latroya Darrell's previous record in the Primary Four girls when she clinched first place in 13 minutes, 33 seconds. Darrell's previous record was 14.22 in 1997.

Second to McKenzie wsa Danlia Martin of Somerset Primary in 13.59 while Carika Weldon of Port Royal placed third in 14.51.

Kor-von Tucker of Purvis set a new record in the Primary Five boys with his winning time of 11.56 which enabled him to beat Carlo Paynter of West End in a sprint finish. Paynter was second in 11.57 and Sheldon McKenzie of Purvis third in 12.36.

Somerset Primary's Jessica Palmer broke one of Flora Duffy's two records when she won the Primary Six girls in 12.43...12 seconds inside Duffy's 12.55 time a year ago. Latroya Darrell of Francis Patton was second in 12.49.

Duffy still holds the record in the Primary Five girls where winner Kimberley Fisher of Somerset Primary was 30 seconds outside her record time of 12.18 set two years ago. Fisher was two minutes ahead of the second place finisher Akilah Reid of Heron Bay in 14.49.

Cody Lima of Port Royal broke Terrence Dill's two-year-old record in the Primary Six age group when he beat 22 other finishers in shaving 15 seconds off Dill's record of 11.55. Lima's time of 11.40 put him 55 seconds ahead of Khushun Mayho in 12.35 while another Somerset Primary youngster, Reginald Walcott, was third in 13.26.

Duffy won the Primary Seven-Middle One girls race in 12.55 but was well outside Shar-dae Whitter's record of 12.05 set in 1997. Duffy's winning time was 12.55 and she was well ahead of Tiffany Allwood of Saltus in 14.27.

Race officials had to deal with a `dead heat' in the new under-15 girls category where Sandys pair Shar-dae Whitter and Tiffany Eatherley came across the line holding hands to share top spot in a time of 12.31. They were 14 seconds faster than the next finisher, Robyn Dickinson, of Bermuda High in 12.45.

Mark Morrison of Saltus continued his good form by winning the under 15 boys in 10.22 as Henry Talbot, also of Saltus, pressed him hard before losing out by just three seconds. Terrence Dill of Dellwood was third in 11.04.

Many of the top runners in the KPMG Series will take part in the fifth Telford Electric Mile which will signal the reopening of the National Stadium on Saturday.

So far some 600 entries have been received and by today's 5 p.m. deadline that number could pass the 750 who signed up last year, of which 680 competed. "At the rate we're going we could exceed last year's numbers,'' said organiser Cal Simons. Registration forms should be returned to Sportseller, Pro Shop and both Telford Electic shops in Somerset and Wellbottom in Southampton. There will be no late entries.

Race number can be collected between 8.30 and 11.30 on Saturday, with the first race starting at noon.