blistering pace yesterday to win the individual honours of the National Duathlon Championships in record-breaking fashion at the US Naval Station in St. David's. His time of one hour, 21 minutes and 55 seconds shattered the previous mark (1:22.44) held by Greg Hopkins since 1992.

Doyling's victory was never in doubt although he later complained of severe muscle cramps just before the end of his second 5K run.

Doyling, who has returned to Bermuda from from Huntsville, Alabama, where he is attending school, scorched the 40-kilometre distance -- 5K run, 30K cycle and 5K run -- looking equal parts Clydesdale and Cannondale. He finished second a year ago in 1:21.55, but his bike time yesterday of 46:17 was three minutes faster than in 1993.

His blazing trail left an interesting duel in the men's division for second and third place overall.

Jeremy Ball eventually took second in 1:28.54, just a second faster than Glynn Sexton who was clocked at 1:28.55, making the battle the only real nail-biter on a hot and humid morning.

Jim Butterfield (1:30.59) and Odilio Angeli (1:32.38) were fourth and fifth respectively.

First overall in the women's division was Julia Hawley, the winner in 1991, as she crossed the finish line in 1:34.43. Hawley was 13th overall and was within reach of the record set last year by Lynn Kynoch (1:33.44).

Hawley was followed by Shona Cowie (1:36.53) with Jane Christie taking third place.

Neil de Ste. Croix was supposed to have provided Doyling with his stiffest challenge. But he was forced to compete in the team division only as a result of a freak accident after a piece of a stationary wind trainer exploded during a workout and a small part lodged into his left ankle.

Still, de Ste. Croix, who rode on his bicycle only, provided the morning with its grittiest performance, and was awarded first place in the cycle leg in 45:42, ahead of Jeff Payne who was a second behind. Payne was actually faster in the race but was stymied on transition time.

De Ste. Croix paved the way for a first overall finish with team-mate James Cooper. The pair finished in 1:19.31, 26 seconds ahead of Brett Forgesson and Richard Mason, who finished at 1:19.57. Third were Harry Patchett and Mike Lee in 1:21.15.

"I really felt it (pain) that last four miles,'' said de Ste. Croix, who was limping afterwards and had a small bandage covering the gash on his ankle.

"But winning the team event helps to make up for not being able to run.'' Cooper, while receiving high-fives from de Ste. Croix, heaped praised on his team-mate for "making things easy for me.

"I found the first 5K run rather difficult, but after the way Neil cycled I knew I could take it easy in the second 5K,'' said Cooper. "Neil won this for us, I give him all the credit.'' Cooper, who recently made his return to the running scene and won the Swan's five-miler a week ago, was 44 seconds behind Forgesson after the first 5K (16:44), and was clocked at 17:05 in the second run. Forgesson, meantime, finished in 16:00 and 16:13 in the two races.

"I tried to keep pace with Brett,'' said Cooper. "He is one heck of a runner, though.'' Karen Adams and Chris Walker took top honours in the women's team division, finishing seventh overall in 1:31.15. Reaching the finish line in 1:45.34 and in second place were Maria Conroy Haydon and Kim Mason. Angela Davies and Susan Buser (1:50.41) were third.

The 21-year-old Doyling took the title away from de Ste. Croix, who won in 1:24.36 last year. Even though Doyling finished just a whisker behind Ball after the opening 5K, it was his sizeable cycling skills that clinched the title for him.

"I thank God for the way I performed today,'' said Doyling, a devout Seventh Day Adventist. "The run was difficult at times. That first hill can be misleading, but I'm very happy.'' Unlike most of the other athletes, Doyling seemed to enjoy the humid conditions, saying the breeze from the ocean made things more comfortable for him than during races in Alabama.

"Oh, yeah, it's so hot there right now, this was no problem in comparison,'' he said. "In fact I found the breeze refreshing.'' Doyling was coming off a personal best 10K last week, where he was clocked in 36:03 on a hilly course.

Hawley, meanwhile, said she spent as little time thinking about the event as possible during the week. "Usually any race I do it's always on my mind, so this time I just put it on the backburner. And it seemed to have paid off.'' Cowie, while pleased with her second place finish, complained of a sore left foot, a carryover from an injury a few weeks ago. "Julia did really well today,'' said the diminutive Cowie. "But second place is nothing to be disappointed about.'' HAWLEY'S COMET -- Julia Hawley quenched her thirst for first with a first-place finish to win the women's division in 1:34.43.

HE'S NUMBER ONE -- Steven Doyling broke the two-year-old Duathlon record yesterday when he finished in 1:21.55.

TEAM SPIRIT -- James Cooper (left) and Neil de Ste. Croix were all smiles after winning the team competition in 1:19.31.