the process becoming the first Kenyan to win the Bermuda event in its 24-year history.

Cherogony opened up such a lead on the first lap of yesterday's Bank of Butterfield race that he passed the half-marathon finish line two and a half minutes ahead of the winner of that event, Paul Freary.

He had moved so far ahead of fellow competitors in his own race that he left Eduard Toukhbatulin in a state of shock as the Russian, who won a sprint finish with another Kenyan Kibet Cherop to claim the runner's up position, initially thought he had won the race.

Toukhbatulin, who ran the majority of the 26.2 miles side-by-side with Cherop, admitted: "We had absolutely no idea what was happening in front of us. We thought we were in the first group.'' It was the second time in a row Toukhbatulin had finished a place behind the winner, but he kept things in perspective.

"I really am not that disappointed,'' he said through an interpreter. "This is only a sport.'' Elsewhere, however, there was heartache as the humid conditions and ill-health conspired to hit both the men's and women's champions of 1998.

Srba Nikolic, the Yugoslav who clocked 2:26:56 on his way to victory a year ago, was forced to quit the race shortly after the 10-mile mark with stomach cramps.

And while the Ukraine's Yelena Plastinina repeated her win, her collapse with dehydration just a mile from home robbed her of a second successive record-breaking performance -- and the $10,000 bonus that would have gone with it.

Although she recovered to complete the course in 2:43.08 -- still 12 minutes ahead of her nearest rival, Russian Anfisa Kosacheva -- Plastinina needed medical treatment immediately after falling exhausted into the arms of race officials at the tape.

She was in no state to reflect on her effort afterwards, but Russian coach Sergei Krasnoshchekov said: "She told me she was well within the pace for the course record until she fell.'' Nikolic groaned: "I got some cramps in my stomach last night. I don't know whether I ate some bad food but I didn't sleep well. After ten miles I was so tired I decided to pull out.

"I could have gone on and finished in about 2:29 but that's no good. The same thing happened to me at the New York marathon in 1997. It's a very big disappointment.'' Cheregony was a model of consistency after easing away from a pack of runners near the four-mile mark to join half-marathon pace-setter and compatriot Levis Anyega.

He sat with Anyega until turning the corner at Devil's Hole Hill for the first time where he surged away, covering the next six miles to the half-way point in 30:46.

He naturally slowed in the second lap as the conditions took a measure of revenge but was a picture of concentration as he smoothly forged onwards, declining all offers of water until three miles from home.

And when he burst down Pitt's Bay Road and onto Front Street to record the event's eighth fastest winning time of 2:20.14, the crowd showed their appreciation with a huge ovation.

In his limited English, Cherogony afterwards played down his achievement, considering it "not bad''.

But, he added, he "could do better with more practice''.

Brett Forgesson and Jane Christie took local honours as the first Island runners to finish.

Forgesson clocked 2:45.53 for a position of 10th overall while Christie recorded a time of 3:20.49 after overhauling early leader Lynn Patchett (3:27.23), who finished second, late in the race.

Forgesson, celebrating a fourth successive top placing and his fifth in six years, said: "I found it tough. In the first four miles I was really tired, thinking this is going to be a long day. But I had an even split on both laps which I was pleased with.'' Last year's winner of the Niagara Falls marathon -- his first victory over the distance -- added: "I'd like to thank all the spectators for their support and suggest that the public come out for this race like they do on May 24.'' Christie, the second female Master (over 40) overall, repeated her success of two years ago. "I went out very slow because of the humidity and I think it paid off in the end,'' she said.

"I don't worry about anyone else. I was beside a few of the local girls in the early stages but I just wanted to stay really relaxed at the beginning and then pick it up. I caught Lynn at about 23 miles and she was suffering a bit then.

"Considering the conditions, I was very satisfied with my time.'' MIND OVER MATTER -- The Ukraine's Yelena Plastinina is helped by a race official after an agonising final mile of the marathon took its toll on her body. Plastinina needed medical treatment after completing her second successive win in the women's race.

JOINING FORCES -- Kenyans Levis Anyega (left) and Simon Cherogony exchange greetings during their separate half-marathon and marathon races yesterday.

Pacesetter Anyega eventually finished third over the shorter distance while Cherogony went on to claim the marathon crown.