Paranya last night defeated compatriot Jeremy Huffman in a thrilling sprint finish to clinch his first Bank of Butterfield International Mile title.Paranya, who came fourth in last year's race, cut four seconds off his time of 12 months ago although it was not enough to break the much-discussed sub-four minute mark nor Joe Falcon's record of 4:04.2 set in 1992.That, though, was only a minor disappointment for the likeable and modest Pennsylvanian whose time of 4:06 in a field derided by some Island punters as weak was more than two seconds faster than Somalian Ibrahim Aden achieved as winner in 1998 and equal fifth fastest in the 11-year history of the race.In fact, Huffman's own time of 4:06.9 would have been enough to win on another occasion.The exciting end to the night's running was at least some consolation to those who had hoped to see local hero Terrance Armstrong test the international competitors.Armstrong missed the race after being holed up by snow which halted USAir flights out of Baltimore and Philadelphia.Paranya and Huffman, who trains with the same coach as Falcon, made their break simultaneously as the leader at the quarter mile stage, Kenya's Jared Segera, faded badly and eventually finished last.

Canadian Rich Tremain finished third around six seconds behind the front pair.

Paranya said afterwards: "I'm really happy. I got fourth place last year and I've been thinking about this race for a whole year now because I don't get to run that many road miles.

"Plus coming to Bermuda is a great trip and I wanted to make it worthwhile, so I put a bit of pressure on myself that way. I came last year and it was a slow race -- I didn't know if I could have won but I felt I should have been a bit closer to the leaders than I was.

"I really felt this year that with the nice gradual downhill at the end it was a race I could excel at.'' And so it proved as he and Huffman moved clear of the field at the second turnaround at the Longtail statue.

"I think we were probably both thinking that if we could make our move there we could get away from everybody,'' added Paranya, whose personal best over the distance is nearly ten seconds better than he clocked last night at 3:56.77.

"We both went at the same time and he really pushed me to a better time. If it hadn't been for him I'm sure it would have been a few seconds slower.'' Another runner to come from behind was David Dunwoody, who shook off an ankle injury which has affected him for more than six weeks to repeat last year's triumph in the local men's mile.

Dunwoody was about 40 yards behind early leader Sheldon Thompson at the quarter mile point, but summoned up the resources to catch him at the three quarter mile mark and push on to hold off Calvert Lee by almost three seconds with a time of 4:34.7.

Such was the effort he had coaxed from his body, he was barely able to speak immediately after the event, but eventually recovered enough to admit: "In the last quarter I was just hanging on for dear life.

"But I've done absolutely no speed work at all recently so when Sheldon went out very fast I just tried to run a steady pace and hope he came back because I just wasn't used to that speed. I finally caught him at the three quarter mark and from then on it was flat out.'' Thompson finally finished fourth as Devoe Whaley clinched third in 4:50.3. In complete contrast, Karen Adams had it all her own way as she claimed her fourth women's title and her second in a row.

Adams took the lead from the outset and by the time she came into view at the finish line was streets ahead of her nearest rival Anna Eatherley, finally completing the race in 5:13.4.

But the opening burst was not a planned tactic, she claimed afterwards.

"I knew some of the girls were going to pace it because of other races over the weekend but I don't know what I was doing really. I just felt good.'' Eatherley, meanwhile, held onto second place, resisting the challenge of Emily Ferguson by a little over two seconds to clock 5:30.1.

Photos by David Skinner WINNER'S SALUTE -- American Karl Paranya takes the applause as he holds off the challenge of countryman Jeremy Huffman in an exciting climax to last night's Front Street Mile.

FIRST TO FINISH -- Both determination and relief shows on the face of Tiffany Eatherley as she celebrates victory in the under-18 girls mile.