Smith was running his first race of the season after a lengthy self-imposed lay-off but he finished 58 seconds ahead of his nearest rival, Ronue Cann, in a second over 29 minutes.

Jamal Hart came in third in 30:27, while the leading woman was Anna Eatherley, who arrived in 34:25, 11th overall.

Mark Morrison won the junior race, over three miles, in 19:07, with Coyatito Smith trailing in 12 seconds behind in second place. Stevon Bailey was third in 20:51.

Sisters Shayla and Shardae Whitter dominated the junior girls race, with Shayla taking first in 23:31, one minute and three seconds ahead of Shardee.

Melissa DeSilva was third.

SWIMMING SW Teenagers Jonathan Herring and Graham Smith took first and second places in the first race of the Pepperidge Farm Summer Swim Series on Saturday.

The 15-year-olds were separated by just four seconds at the finish of the half-mile open water swim at John Smith's Bay.

Herring came home in 13 minutes, 27 seconds, while third placed Mike Cash, twice his opponents' age at 30, was 17 seconds back.

"I was swimming by myself most of the way with Mike and Graham just a bit in front and to the side of me,'' said Herring. "Near the end I saw about 25 metres of smooth water and swam as hard as I could, which put me in the lead.'' Top female was Jeanne Meunier, who was fourth overall in 14:54 and just a second ahead of the second woman, Kris Cash.

Many top swimmers missed the event, among them junior Ronald Cowen and females Claire and Sarah Mancell, Alicia Mullan and Tamika Williams.

The next open water swim in the series is a one-mile race at Horseshoe Bay on June 20 at 5.00 p.m.