victory in the Tri-Gatorade Triathlon: No longer will he be able to sneak up on Island triathletes the way he did in the first event of the season on Saturday in St. David's.

"I think I'm a marked man now,'' the 17-year-old laughed after overwhelming a top field that included Greg Hopkins, Neil de Ste Croix and a battery of blue-chip triathletes from New York.

Hedges, in only his second year of competition in the elite division, completed the 1.5-kilometre swim, 40K bike and 10K run in two hours, 11 minutes and ten seconds.

Hopkins, a former national triathlon champion, was another minute back in 2:12:21 while New Yorker Rob Piegari was third in 2:16:37. As for de Ste Croix, the two-time defending national champion is still shaking off the effects of winter flu and had to settle for sixth.

Julia Hawley finished a strong 15th overall to win the women's division, clocking 2:29:33. Melanie Claude was second -- 19th overall -- in 2:33:40.

Hedges' breakthrough wasn't a total surprise; in fact, many felt it was only a matter of time. He was third in last year's national championships and was second among Bermudians in the ITU pro event.

A former competitive swimmer, he was been concentrating on cycling of late, racing against the Island's premier riders to the point where he will be in the line-up this week for the four-day Bermuda Grand Prix.

"My cycling has really come on, especially the past couple of years,'' said Hedges, who will attend Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts this fall.

But in light of the rough, choppy conditions at Clearwater Beach, a strong swim was critical on Saturday. And Hedges was third out of the water behind Dave Cash and Mike Bouchard -- and more than a minute ahead of Hopkins -- then took over the lead early on the bike.

"My plan was just to go out as hard as I could and hang on,'' said Hedges.

He did. Hopkins, 27 years older than Hedges, shaved a few seconds off the lead through the cycle and halved a 41-second disadvantage in the run before fading.

Thanks to two 180-degree turns on the run course, Hedges said he was able see Hopkins make his move. "I just kept on going; I wasn't going to slow down,'' he said.

The fastest run actually belonged to Kevin Tucker, who won the National Duathlon Championships two weeks ago. Tucker ran a blistering 37:54, enabling him to sneak into fourth place overall, just ahead of Dave Cash, who was competing in his first major triathlon.

First place in the team event went to the trio of swimmer Shona Palmer, cyclist Tim Palmer and runner Rod Allen in 2:02:29 -- 43 seconds ahead of Kevin Insley, Mel Bennett and Steve Donnelly.

JULIA HAWLEY -- top female finisher in Saturday's Gatorade Triathlon.

ON THEIR MARKS -- Triathletes get set to brave the chilly, choppy waters at Clearwater Beach on Saturday.

KRIS HEDGES -- the 17-year-old stunned a strong field to win the first triathlon of the season.