yesterday when they won the men's and women's divisions of the Elbow Beach Half Marathon.

Smith led the field of 105 from start to finish, extending his lead over Mark Perry, Kevin Tucker, Stephen Caines and Manuel Lopes the longer the race went on as he clipped two minutes and five seconds off last year's winning time of 1:14:10 by Tracy Wright.

Smith completed the course from St. George's to Elbow Beach in 1:12:05 and it was another four minutes and 18 seconds before second-placed Mark Perry crossed the line in 1:16:23, followed by Tucker in 1:17:12 and Caines in 1:18:02.

"I just wanted to sustain the pace, which I think I did,'' said Smith who set the early pace through the streets of St. George's and never looked back, clipping three minutes off his time last year.

"In the beginning of the race I was a little tight in my lower legs but after about four miles it worked itself out. I was very concerned about it in the beginning.'' Smith used yesterday's race to begin gearing up for the track season in the new year. Next month he is set to compete in an event in Curacao, to be followed by the International 10-K in January. "Most of the races locally will be for my training because in the new year I'll be getting back on the track,'' explained Smith who has had a good cross-country season.

Smith increased his lead near the airport and by Swizzle Inn led the second pack of Perry, Tucker, Caines and Lopes by 82 seconds with Mike Whalley a further 12 seconds behind.

"The last I saw him (Smith) was going over Blue Hole Hill,'' said Perry who was left to battle it out for most of the race for second place. "I thought he went out fast for the first few miles and thought he might break down but he didn't. Kevin Tucker had a really good run. He and I were trying to pace off each other.

"I started off pretty conservatively and the first two miles were easy. I was just trying to break 1:16-1:17. I didn't really think I was in great shape for a half-marathon because we don't do that many here, so I was pleased with my time. I tend to be better at the shorter distances.'' Perry has his sights on International Race Weekend when he plans to do both the mile and 10-K. "I'm trying to work it so that I peak around International Race Weekend,'' he explained.

At the Castle Harbour entrance Smith led Perry, Tucker and Caines by a minute and 50 seconds with Lopes just behind. At John Smith's Bay, Perry and Tucker were still together, now two minutes and 13 seconds behind the runaway leader with Caines a further 13 seconds back.

Perry started to break away from Tucker at St. Mark's Church and at the Botanical Gardens entrance he led Tucker by 30 seconds though he was now some three minutes behind Smith.

Conroy Haydon, as expected, led home the women with a time of 1:26:20, which gave her a 14th overall placing. Karen Adams was the second female to finish, 16th overall and just 16 seconds behind Conroy Haydon. Jane Christie was third, 32nd overall in 1:32:16.

"This is my first race down here since the Lindo's race, though I did a half-marathon at the end of October,'' Conroy Haydon said. "My speed work isn't up to par but I'm training for the marathon in January so I'm concentrating on distance rather than speed. I thought I'd do 1:25-1:26.

"It was humid and if this was two days ago all of us would have had perfect runs.'' Both Smith and Conroy Haydon win $250 vouchers with a complimentary weekend stay at Wyndham Franklin Plaza Hotel in Philadelphia while the second-placed finishers each win $150 worth of sporting goods and a weekend for two at Elbow Beach. The two third-place finishers in each category win dinner for two at Spazzizi's.

Jim Butterfield (ninth overall in 1:23:09) was the first male master to finish while the female master winner was Chris Sommerville, 39th overall, in 1:34:27.

Giorgio Zanol was the winner of the male senior master division -- finishing in 1:32:31 -- while Kris Hedges was the male junior division winner in 1:38:50. Pierre Sylvester was the first Elbow Beach employee to finish. He had a time of 1:27:57.

THE ONLY ONE THAT CAUGHT HIM -- Kavin Smith with wife Carla after yesterday's race.