Two familiar faces tuned up for 2004 with convincing - and predictable - victories in yesterday's Fairmont to Fairmont Road Race.

Jay Donawa made it five straight wins finishing first in the Island's annual athletics curtain-raiser, while Anna Eatherley took advantage of a somewhat depleted women's field to wrest the ladies' title easily.

For both, the success was tempered by the fact that the 7.2 mile trek from the Fairmont Hamilton to its South Shore sister hotel was moreso a training exercise to gauge where they are preparation-wise rather than an all-out competitive run.

"They made a bit of a fuss about it being my fifth time in a row so I just came to try and win the race.

"I took off and dropped the pack pretty early and then just relaxed. This is probably one of my slower times but I went into it determined not to run too hard because it's early in the season and I have some other goals. I'm not trying to peak now," said Donawa who had distanced himself from the field by the time he hit East Broadway and went on to clock 38.51 minutes.

The 31-year-old is once again eyeing the elusive jewel missing from his crown - a triumph in the May 24th Marathon Derby.

"The 24th of May has always eluded me. I'm trying to improve on my fitness to put myself in a position to be successful this year so I want to peak at the right time.

"In the past I've run well early in the season and fizzled off in late spring."

Later this month he steps up training by participating in the 10K and Half-Marathon at International Race Weekend.

"I'm not focusing on this early part of the season. I'm just going to run as hard as I can and see what times I get and where they place me. Race Weekend is not a major thing for me," said Donawa who is also hoping to compete in next month's Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Cross Country Championships in Jamaica.

As he bears down on perennial May 24 rival Kavin Smith - unbeaten for the last nine years - Donawa seems keenly aware of what must be done.

"I'm going to concentrate on strength work. I think that's the one area I have to continue working on.

"I know Kavin is training and obviously he is looking to continue winning and I'm trying to win for the first time.

"He is naturally strong. That's a tremendous asset he has plus the fact that he knows the course and has been successful on it. Knowing the course helps when you're challenged. You can run based on your strengths and weaknesses."

Donawa was followed home by Sheldon Thompson (40.52 minutes), Michael Downey (41.20) and Mark Morrison (43.03) with Eatherley placing tenth overall in 45.57 minutes.

"I was expecting a couple of other good female runners - Ashley (Couper) and Lynn (Patchett) - to be in the race and I was disappointed that neither was there so I had to race against some of the guys," said Eatherley, who kept company with Harry Patchett and Mark Albouy for much of the time.

"The course was slightly different and a little bit harder for me because I didn't know how far it was to the end whereas everyone knows the normal course so well. But it was a good race."

The 40-year-old is also gearing up for Race Weekend and May 24. In the former instance, she has entered the 10K and the Half-Marathon but is still undecided if to run both. As for the Marathon Derby, she will be aiming to retain the women's trophy which she recaptured last year from Lynn Patchett.

Victoria Fiddick, too, used yesterday for training purposes and was pleased with 12th overall and second among the women in 47.05 minutes.

"I really had no plans for this race. I just went out and did the best I could," said the 38-year-old mother of three.

Looking ahead to Race Weekend, her aim is to improve her 10K performance.

"I'm still too far from the top to get a good placement but I just want to get a better time. I'd like to break 40 (minutes). That would be a huge step," she acknowledged.

Meanwhile, Mark Morrison - one of the young talents in road running - was also content with his showing given a recent bout of flu. His fourth place, he noted, is a good sign for the season and he expects everything to fall into place by May 24.