Jay Donawa just plain came up short.

They were among the top Island hopes -- part of a local contingent of more than 225 -- in the Bermuda International 10K on Saturday but none proclaimed the performance to be among their best.

And of those, Donawa was particularly distressed.

This was a race he had been waiting for, the chance to match strides with a top overseas field on his own turf. Never mind that he was the top Bermudian finisher; that claim to fame just doesn't cut anymore for the 24-year-old.

"In terms of time and the way I ran, I'm very disappointed,'' said Donawa, after crossing the National Stadium finish line 10th overall with a time of 32 minutes and 50 seconds.

A lot of runners would be happy but not Donawa. He figures he's reached the stage of his career where he's ready to move onto the next level. "I can't be content (with being the top local),'' said Donawa.

Never mind that it was only his second race of the year. He admitted to being "a little rusty'' and said he would "really be ticked if it was May.'' Still, Donawa said he felt confident training and went out expecting to run around 31 minutes.

With the likes of Steve Nyamu, Paul Evans, Elana Myer and even his old school chum from Oregon, Moroccan Abidi Bouazzi, to pace him, Donawa called it a "learning experience.'' He ran a conservative race and was with a strong group behind the two front runners through the first five kilometres before he "folded'' just past Flatts.

Tucker knows what that's all about.

Ebbing with confidence after finishing second behind Kavin Smith in the Princess to Princess race (7.1 miles) two weeks ago, he too was with the chasing pack through the first half of the race.

But then Tucker said he "fell apart'' along North Shore Road and ended up coming home 16th overall (34.53). In fact, he was overtaken by Tracy Wright (14th, 34.38), the top local finisher in 1991 and third in the Princess to Princess, for second among Bermudians, and finished just ahead of Andrew Doble (17th, 35.38).

Neither Smith nor two-time defending champion Terrance Armstrong, entered.

"I don't know what happened,'' said Tucker. "All of a sudden my whole breathing pattern changed (and) I felt short of breath.

"I went out fast and I guess my body isn't used to going that speed so early in the race.'' Adams knew right from the start breathing was going to be a problem for her.

Suffering from a strain of bronchitis, she ran in the Bank of Butterfield Mile 12 hours earlier -- finishing second to Jennifer Fisher -- and only wanted to maintain a solid pace.

She did, clocking a 39.44 to easily finish as the top local woman, a title she won in 1993. Former local winner Debbie Butterfield was second among Bermuda females in 43.07.

"I just tried to stay strong,'' said Adams afterwards, clutching a ventilator in her left hand. "I didn't want to get into trouble with my breathing,'' Fisher, who completed the mile-10K double last year, didn't enter. But Maria Conroy-Haydon -- and child to be -- did.

Winner of the race in 1987, 1988 and 1992, Conroy-Haydon is four months pregant and kept it in cruise-control the whole race, finishing in 44.25. Only on the hills, she said later, did she feel the difference.

Meanwhile, Warwick Academy teacher Harry Patchett claimed overall masters (over-40) honours when he finished an impressive 19th overall. The 48-year-old clocked exactly 36 minutes.

And there were two fine performances from local teenagers. Seventeen year-old Calvert Lee finished 24th in 36.51 to win the junior division, closely followed by Tyler Butterfield (26th, 37.13) who the previous evening had triumhped in the secondary schoolboys mile.

ELANA MEYER (above) cruises to victory in the women's division followed by first local Jay Donawa (below). Meyer finished ninth overall and Donawa tenth.