He may have failed in his quest to win a fourth International 10K, but Russian Dmitry Maximov proved too hot to handle in the International Half-Marathon yesterday.

On a day when the world record for the distance of 59 minutes and 16 seconds was shattered by over 20 seconds in Arizona by the legendary Ethiopian distance runner Haile Gebrselassie, the slightly-built Maximov crossed the finish line on Front Street in one hour, six minutes and six seconds ? having left Australian Phillip Sly for dead with about two and a half miles remaining.

Sly finished in 1:06.28 while Englishman David Mitchinson ? who was tipped to give Maximov a good run for his money with a personal best of just over 64 minutes ? arrived only one second later in a sprint to the line.

Maximov, who journeyed to Bermuda with a month of training in the warmer climes of Portugal under his belt, has now won the Half-Marathon an impressive five times.

?I have never won any race five times so I cannot believe it ? I love running in Bermuda,? he told afterwards through an interpreter.

The race began yesterday morning in horribly wet and windy conditions, with Sly and Mitchinson making the early running along Front Street and up Trimingham Hill.

But Maximov, along with his tall, dark-haired running partner Mykola Antonenko from the Ukraine, were content to play second fiddle over the first few miles, biding their time on the leaders? shoulders.

Both Sly and Mitchinson admitted afterwards that they had been running tactically in tandem, taking it in turns to run in each other?s slipstream while generally making life uncomfortable for the Russian and the Ukrainian tucked in behind them.

All four looked to be coping well with the lively pace, however, and only had their rhythm disturbed once when, just after passing Spittle Pond, a huge wave crashed into the coastal rocks and soaked them in a shower of sea water.

But the status quo was maintained down Harrington Sound Road, through Flatts Village and along a wind-buffeted North Shore, before Maximov finally made his move about a mile away from Spanish Point.

And despite the beseeching screams of the crowd lining the route, nobody could summon the strength to go with him and he was allowed a long canter to the line unchallenged.

?I felt very good, even when it was very windy,? he said.

?I knew if I stay just behind leaders for most of the race and not push too much, then I would have enough for the finish. I feel very happy.?

With Atonenko placing fourth in 1:06.40 and St. Vincent?s Pamenos Ballantyne just under three minutes behind, the top five finishers were, as expected, from overseas.

But leading the Bermudian charge was Jay Donawa ? the seven-times Princess to Princess road race champion ? who pronounced himself pleased afterwards with his sixth-place finish in a creditable 1:11.16.

?Overall I?m very happy with my time,? said the 33-year-old.

?Going into it, I knew the weather was going to be a factor and on North Shore particularly I felt I was being brought to a standstill. I was hoping to get under one hour 11 minutes but given the conditions I?ve got to be pretty happy with the result.

?It was difficult out there. I was in between the front pack and the rest of the runners so I was essentially by myself once again, which made it even harder when the going got tough on the North Shore. But given that it?s early in the season and I?m nowhere near my peak, I think I can take a lot of positives out of today.?

In the women?s event, hot favourite Silvia Skvortsova from Russia ? who coasted to victory by over a minute in Saturday?s International 10K ? again lived up to her billing, finishing seventh in the race overall in a time of 1:18.19.

Samia Akbar of the United States was second female in 1:19.23 followed by Morocco?s Kenza Wahbi in 1:21.57.

The top local female finisher was Karen Bordage, 18th overall in 1:28.23, beating out Victoria Fiddick who crossed the line in a time of 1:30.32.

Gebrselassie finished the second half of yesterday?s Rock ?N? Roll Arizona marathon in 58 minutes and 55 seconds.

The previous record was set by 18-year-old Kenyan Samuel Wanjiru in Holland last September.

Gebrselassie also broke the 20 kilometre world mark en route in a time of 55:48.

The 32-year-old, four-time world champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist has now broken a world record 20 times in his long, prestigious career.