seemed to be contagious as three of the four age groups at the Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships were won in record times.

Butterfield, who recently set a new mark in the Bank of Butterfield Mile, was at it again at Hog Bay Park when he led the Saltus over-15 boys to victory over the hilly three-mile course.

Butterfield finished the tough terrain in 18 minutes and one second, more than a minute and a half ahead of Larry Marshall of CedarBridge who finished the four laps in 19.42.

Jonathan Herring, also of Saltus, was third in 21.15 while Andrew Rawson helped Saltus claim three of the top four places with his fourth place finish in 22.22. Joel Duffy of Warwick Academy completed the top five. Jeremiah Smith, second to Butterfield on Front Street, did not compete.

Records also fell in the under-15 girls and the over-15 girls. Shanay Scott of Warwick Academy broke the first record when she led home the under-15 girls with her record time of 19.08 over the 21 mile course.

More than two minutes behind was Cheri Minors, also of Warwick Academy, in 21.18 while Bermuda High School trio Natasha Pedro, Katie Taylor and Alex Edwards occupied the next three places. That produced the closest team finish, with Warwick Academy edging out Bermuda High by one point, 33 to 34, while Saltus were third and CedarBridge fourth.

In the over-15 girls, Jennifer Young, another Front Street miler, was first in a record time of 26.15 over the three miles as Warwick Academy took the top three places and the team title by 37 points to 45 over Bermuda High School.

Second was Emma Rego in 27.01 while Jessica Sousa was third in 29.21. Dawnette Smith of CedarBridge placed fourth in 29.56 and Cathie Hay of Saltus fifth in 29.58. CedarBridge placed third and Saltus fourth.

Mark Morrison of Saltus won the under-15 boys race of 21 miles in 15.19 while Chris Conway, also of Saltus, was second in 15.56. Mike O'Connor of Warwick Academy was third in 16.03, Brian Steinhoff (Saltus) fourth in 16.05 and CedarBridge's David Trott fifth in 16.38.

Saltus comfortably won the under-15 boys title, finishing with 20 points while Warwick Academy finished a distant second on 47 points. CedarBridge were third.

Four schools participated with Berkeley, because of mock exams, unavailable.

Each school had six members per team with the first five counting towards the team score. Today the Middle Schools will compete at Clearwater starting at 1.00 p.m.

Photos by Tony Cordeiro ON THE RUN -- Shanay Scott (left) of Warwick Academy broke away from the pack to win yesterday's under-15 girls race in record time at the senior schools cross-country championships in Hog Bay Park.