5K road race.

In the first event since International Race Weekend, Donawa followed up his triumph among local 10K runners with another strong performance, finishing with a time of 15 minutes and 29 seconds.

The race took place in teeming rain but didn't prevent Donawa from finishing 49 seconds ahead of second-placed David Dunwoody.

"It never really impeded my progress, but it made the surface a little difficult to run on,'' Donawa said. "I found it a little slippery, but nonetheless I'm pleased.'' Like Donawa, Jamal Hart (third), Tracy Wright (fourth) and Sheldon Thompson (sixth) were using this race to prepare for the CAC Cross-Country championships in San Jose, Costa Rica in March. The Bermuda team is expected to be selected next week.

Lynn Patchett took the women's title.

"Ultimately I'm looking to run under 15 minutes, I'm definitely in shape to do it,'' said Donawa. "That is one of the goals coach (Gerry) Swan had set out for me for the day, but overall I'm pleased with the way things are going.

"This race was designated as a race for (cross country) selection and that was another reason why Tracy, Jamal, Sheldon and myself were all out. We were summoned to run this race.'' Donawa had things pretty much his own way, with Hart almost a minute behind in third place and Wright another four seconds behind. Up and coming youngster Tyler Butterfield continued to impress, finishing fifth overall and first among the juniors in 16:34.

Thompson was sixth, Calvert Lee the second junior, seventh overall in 16:50, followed by Andrew Doble, the first Master, Kevin Tucker and Calvin Steede.

As well as the cross-country event, Donawa is also planning to compete in some track (5,000 and 10,000 metres) events in the Carolinas in late March-early April.

In the absence of Karen Adams, Anna Eatherley and Maria Conroy Haydon, Patchett had things her own way in the women's category.

She finished 24th overall in 18:51 with the next female finisher being Alison Cameron in 45th place in 19:41. One place back was Jane Christie, the first Masters female, in 19:44.