female runners on Sunday, when she won the Third Annual PartnerRe 5K in a new course record of 18 minutes, 26 seconds. Eatherley led comfortably from the start of the challenging, hilly course from Botanical Gardens, Paget, in breezy, cool conditions.

"I really enjoyed it a lot more than last year!'' she joked. In 1999, Eatherley was a last-minute entry who decided to compete with a bandaged, sprained ankle-and was defeated by Karen Adams who then set a record of 18:30.

"Today, I led from the start,said Eatherley. "I did a really fast first mile, but I slowed down in the second mile and I think they were starting to catch me.'' Nevertheless, Eatherley remained 47 seconds ahead of her closest threat, Adams, at the finish.

Adams, fresh off a Bermuda Bicycle Association time trial earlier the same morning, battled Lynn Patchett in a tightly-contested race for second place.

Patchett, currently training for the April 17 Boston Marathon, held on to the runner-up spot behind Eatherley until midway through the final mile when Adams overtook her on Point Finger Road and powered up Berry Hill to a 19:13 finish.

Patchett was third in 19:25.

A total of 200 female runners and walkers turned out for the charity event to fight breast cancer-including Premier Jennifer Smith, who walked the course.

Especially competitive were the 16-to-29 and 30-to-39 year age groups, which saw a flurry of sub-21-minute times as contenders battled it out for prize placings.

In the 16-to-29 age group, Alexandra Reck-who was fourth overall-repeated her strong win of last year to finish in 20:01. Relative newcomer Brooke Petersmeyer scored an exciting second-place age-group victory (20:16) over perennial champ Georgia Belboda, who was third in 20:22.

Front Street Mile competitor Myra Brayham won a well-fought race in the 30-to-39 group, defeating rivals Victoria Fiddick and Penelope Butterfield to finish in 20:49.

Anna Eatherley: record breaker.