A cunning feint at a water stop by Kenyan Philip Koech fooled elite rival Ed Moran and opened up what proved to be an unassailable lead in Saturday's International 10K.

Midway through the gruelling course, race leader Koech sold Moran a dummy by attempting to make a move for water before exploding into a breakaway to leave the American trailing and unable to react.

It was a clever tactic. Moran never recovered and Koech never looked back.

"It was the turning point of the race for me," said runner-up Moran who had nothing but praise for his fierce competitor. "I wasn't planning on taking a break for water and his move threw me.

"It really hurt me because he made a breakaway and I think I lost a bit of focus. The second half of the course is so difficult and I thought perhaps he'd come back, but he didn't.

"He ran a really tough race and it broke me mentally."

Koech's relentless 29.13 run was even more astounding considering the extremely long air trip from Nairobi, via London and New York he endured to reach the Island.

"It was a long and tiring trip," said Koech in broken English. "My training partner Emmanuel Chamer won last year's race and he gave me some advice. I'm very happy to win the race." Compatriot Haron Lagat came third with a time of 30.07.

For Moran it was the advice of a customs officer at LF Wade International Airport last summer, which triggered his interest in competing in the race.

"I came to Bermuda on vacation in the summer and got searched by customs," explained Moran who posted a time of 29.31. "I was pretty mad at the time but the guy noticed all my running gear and asked me if I'd ever run in the International Race Weekend. To be honest I didn't know much about at it and once I'd looked into it I made it part of my schedule."

Leading local was once again Chris Estwanik who followed up his fifth-placed finish in the KPMG Invitational Front Street Mile by coming seventh in the 10K.

Former US Olympic triallist Estwanik, who is a married to fellow competitor Ashley Estwanik, recorded an impressive time of 31.11.

"It was a tough race and this is a tough course," he said. "The first 5K was ok, but the second half of the race is brutal. Once again the crowd were great and I have to say the atmosphere during Friday's Front Street Mile was probably the best I've ever experienced as an athlete. Only the Olympic trials for the US could probably compare."

Second Bermuda runner was Evan Naude who was 13th overall in 34.52, while Michael Donawa, who performed the rabbit duties in the KPMG Invitational Front Street Mile, finished 15th with a time of 35.54.