Cape Cod, Massachusetts, yesterday to finish 32nd overall out of a field of 7,500 runners.

The winner of the May 24 Marathon Derby finished ahead of the top female finisher of the race -- Coleen DeReuch of South Africa -- who completed the prestigious road race in 36.42.

The top male finisher was Simon Karori of Kenya, the pre-race favourite, who ran a workmanlike 32.30 while compatriot Dominic Kirui finished five seconds behind at 32.35 in what shaped up to be a two-man race right from the start.

Behind the top two were a pack of four racers who clung together throughout the 7.1-mile course, which snaked along narrow roads on the western fringe of Falmouth from Woods Hole Village to Falmouth Heights. Khalid Kairounnai of Morocco, Keith Brantley of Florida, John Tracy of Ireland and Michael Bilyeu of Oregan finished in spots three through six.

But it was the Bermudians who turned in suprisingly strong performances before an estimated crowd of 100,000 spectators who had turned out primarily in hopes of seeing US President Bill Clinton who is vacationing in Martha's Vineyard, but who ultimately declined an invitation to run in the race.

A trip to the race was the reward for most of Bermuda's runners for being at the top of their respective series in the KPMG standings.

Brett Forgesson was the second Bermuda representative to cross the finish line, finishing 44th overall in 37.12. Mark Perry clocked in at 38.00 to finish third among the 20 Bermudians running. Anna Eatherley was the first woman from Bermuda to cross the finish line in 41.59 and was 208th overall.

Third among Bermuda women was Maria Conroy-Haydon who completed the race in 42.23 and was 227th overall followed by Sandra Mewett, who was also fourth overall among all Female Masters in the Falmouth race. Mewett had a time of 43.08 and was 266th overall.

Mark Constable, Jr., 14, was the fastest of all juniors over the line in an impressive time of 47.42 and was 548th overall.

"Kavin and Brett ran their hearts out,'' said team manager Ray Ming after the race. "In fact, Kavin ran for a few miles with DeReuch which turned out to be a good strategic move for him.'' Bermuda racers took advantage of a strong headwinds in conditions which were sunny and clear for the most part.

Not running were last year's champions, Bentson Masya of Kenya and Lynn Jennings of Newmarket, New Hampshire, who shattered the course records for male and female runners. Masya, who clocked in at 31.52, broke American Alberto Salazar's long-standing mark of 31.53, established in 1982. Jennings, meanwhile, set the new women's standard of 36.13, smashing the old time of 36.17 set by Joan Benoit Samuelson in 1985.

Bermuda results: 1. Kavin Smith, 35.58; 2. Brett Forgesson, 37.12, 3. Mark Perry, 38.00, 4. Harry Patchett, 40.55, 5. Anna Eatherley, 41.59, 6. Maria Conroy-Haydon, 42.23, 7. Geoff Blee, 42.51, 8. Sandra Mewett, 43.08, 9. Lynn Kynoch, 44.25, 10. Richard Knights, 44.39, 11. Debbie Butterfield, 44.49, 12.

Jane Christie, 46.27, 13. Mark Constable, Jr., 47.42, 14. Mike Rickarts, 48.23, 15. Giorgio Zanol, 48.33, 16. Peggy Couper, 49.07, 17. Elaine Watkinson, 54.52, 18. Karen Robson, 59.24, 19. Dorothy Gilchrist, 59.35, 20.

Rosalie Rickarts, 66.00.