Two of the Island's leading road runners have achieved top three finishing positions in separate 5K events in the US and Canada.

On a weekend that saw a quartet of Bermuda athletes compete in North America, Lamont Marshall repeated his runner-up position in the Heroes to Hero 5K near Philadelphia, while Victoria Fiddick ran a 5K best of 18 minutes 22 seconds as she came home third woman in the GoodLife Fitness Toronto 5K.

Poor weather conditions for the Heroes race at Gloucester City put paid to any hopes of a fast time for Marshall, who had been expected to trouble his own personal best – set last year on the same course – of 14.50.

With rain, wind, and a temperature of only 38F, finishing times were noticeably slower than in previous years. For a second consecutive year Marshall was beaten by Moroccan winner Outaleb Mouchine, who ran 15.04 to Marshall's 15.09.

Marshall's father and coach Larry Marshall Sr. described Mouchine as a "consummate leech" for the way he tucks in behind other athletes and only takes to the front in a final kick to the finish line.

"He does not do his share of taking the lead. It is like a gentlemen's agreement amongst runners that, if there is a group of you, then you do your share of leading.

"Lamont and the other guys who came third and fourth all led at times, but the Moroccan just sits on people and then goes past his competitors in the last 200m," he said.

Despite disapproving of Mouchine's tactics, Marshall Sr. said he and his son were pleased with the time considering the conditions, noting that many of the other top runners had been slowed by 20 to 25 seconds compared to what had been achieved in previous years.

Marshall is expected to return to local action this Sunday in the Crime Stoppers 5K in Hamilton.

Also competing in the Heroes to Hero race was Southampton's Otis Robinson, who was 23rd overall in 17.53. Like Marshall, he had hoped for a faster time, but the weather, and a slight cold in the days before the event, slowed him down.

"It is probably one of the coldest races I've ever done. It was a bit of a struggle and beforehand I could not even warm-up properly. I did the best I could.

"I had hoped to stay in the low 17s. My head and hands were numb at the end.

"My finishing position was better than my time," he said.

In Toronto, May 24 Half Marathon Derby women's champion Fiddick returned to the Goodlife Fitness marathon, half marathon and 5K event, where last year she took third place in the half marathon.

This time she took third position in the 5K, running a stunning 18.22 to claim first in the women's 40-44 age division.

She finished ahead of more than 1,000 women in the race and was only 10 seconds adrift of the winner.

"It was cold, but sunny. The course was good. I was only 10 seconds behind the first and second place runners.

"We had been running neck-and-neck all the way, then they took off in the last 100 metres and I could not push any harder," said Fiddick.

Her time was a minute faster than in the PartnerRe 5K two weeks earlier.

While in Toronto she also sat at a dinner table with marathon running legend Bill Rodgers and said he had expressed a strong interest and desire to run in Bermuda.

Also competing in Toronto was Bermudian senior master Mark Albouy.

He ran in the half marathon and clocked a highly respectable 1.31.26 chip time to finish 172nd overall.

¦ This Sunday sees the return of the annual Crime Stopper 5K run and walk, starting and finishing outside the Argus Group building on Wesley Street.

The race is sponsored by the Argus Group and organised by the Swan's Running Club.

In past years the 5K course has proven to be one of the fastest on the Island. Juniors will be able to run a shorter 2.5K route.

Entries are being taken until 4.30 p.m. on Friday, with race entry forms available at the Argus Building, International Sports Shop, Sportseller and Sports 'R' Us, and also online at www.bermudatiming.bm

Late entries can also be made at race number pick-up in the new Argus Building, Wesley Street, from 12 p.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday.

The 5K walk and junior race starts at 8.30 a.m. on Sunday, with the adults' 5K starting at 9 a.m.