Kavin Smith got his $5,000 bonus after all, as local telecommunications company TeleBermuda (TBI) rewarded the top distance runner for his record-breaking performance in winning Wednesday's Marathon Derby.

The now six-time champion clocked one hour, nine minutes and 36 seconds, to knock some 13 seconds off his previous race record, yet this was still well short of the target time of 1:08:30 to receive a pre-announced cash bonus being offered by Sports `R' Us.

Smith will use the funds towards training, travel and living expenses in his bid to qualify for the marathon at this year's Olympic games in Sydney, Australia.

He has had to take several months off from his job at Bermuda Telephone Company in order to fully immerse himself in preparation for a final attempt at reaching the qualifying mark of 2:20:00, in Deluth, Minnesota on June 17.

"We know that in Bermuda $5,000 doesn't go that far, but when abroad it stretches quite a way,'' said Smith, who spent seven weeks in New Mexico doing intensive high-altitude training prior to his return last Sunday.

"Plus, as I've been off from work for quite a while, it covers my bills and other training expenses and allows me to enjoy the luxury of training full-time.

"It makes a big difference. The biggest thing about the sponsorship is that it gives you that added responsibility...it's a choice that I have made to make myself accountable. There were times when I was in Albuquerque, that I felt like hopping on a plane and coming home, but to know that TBI were kind enough to give and I asked for this it made all the difference in the world.'' Many in road running circles had previously intimated the bonus time to be beyond anyone in the field, including Smith. The results bore this out -- second place finisher Jay Donawa would have had to knock more than nine minutes off his time of 1:17:58, an eternity in running terms.

"We thought that the 1:08 time frame was unrealistic as a bonus system,'' said TBI general manager James Fitzgerald during an afternoon press conference. "Kavin already had the record and he shaved 13 seconds off that.

It's our way of thinking that clearly he's the winner in any way, shape or form and deserving of reward.

"So, yes there is some correlation between this and the other bonus, but we think that collectively we in Bermuda have to (financially) support not only Kavin, but other sports people if we want them to be able to demonstrate their full capacity and capability and win at international events.

"Clapping is great along the race route and that pushes greatness too, but at the end of the day you still have to pay your bills; still have to buy some running gear; still have to have some trainers to help you get the kinks out; and you still have to get on a plane and go somewhere else and pay hotels and things like that. It's a combination of all that, that is necessary for athletes in Bermuda to realise their true potential.

"We're hopeful that with our support of Kavin -- and others -- that we're able to assist Kavin in reaching his goals.'' Smith concurred, noting how the build-up to the Bermuda Day event had turned into something relating two separate fixtures, one featuring him against the clock; the other a race for second place.

And this, he noted, was not helpful, either to him or others striving to do well and be competitive in what is the premier race on the local calendar.

"It put me in a (tough) position, because it came to a point where it was totally about Kavin and this 1:08:30. It was separated clearly, that the race was not for first -- it was for second and third -- then there was Kavin going for the 1:08:30, which forced quite a bit of pressure upon me.

"Yesterday I ran 1:09:36 and I know -- and I'll go on record to say -- if I was running for the (race) record time it would have been faster. Because I had to set a pace that would allow me to run a 1:08:30 you pay for it in the later stages, and yesterday was a race that was all about conditions, but it set so much extra pressure and I wasn't actually in a race, rather doing a time trial in front of the Bermuda public and that's exactly how it felt.

"Everyone was not looking to see if I'm coming first, they were looking to see if I could break 1:08:30 and it puts me not in a race, but an uncomfortable place, and I feel it has a negative effect on the other athletes because it's still a race and you actually condition those guys' minds to believe they can't win.'' TeleBermuda began its sponsorship of Smith a year ago as part of its community involvement programme.