Masters mile at the New Balance Invitational meet in Boston's Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Centre on Sunday.

Now Burgess, who has rarely competed in recent years but still holds Bermuda's 800 metre record, is seriously considering a comeback.

"Steve Burgess isn't done yet, that's what 4:30 says,'' said Burgess yesterday, after returning to the Island.

"In six weeks' time I go back for the Masters Championships and hopefully I'll be better prepared. This was quite good but hopefully the competition will be a lot tougher.'' Burgess competed in his first Masters race at his former college, the University of Georgia, last October when he turned 40. This latest race is giving him something more to think about.

He won the mile in a close finish with Paul Hammond who placed second in 4:31.49.

Burgess' time was almost five seconds faster than Kavin Smith's finish in the recent Front Street Mile.

"My speciality used to be the 800, still the Bermuda record the last time I checked,'' said Burgess. "I don't know if I should focus on the mile or the 5K.'' Burgess virtually hung up his running shoes over the last 10 years as he concentrated on coaching. Some of the athletes under his wing include Tyler Butterfield, David Dunwoody and Maria Conroy Hayden.

The only time he has featured in local races has been as a `rabbit' in the Bank of Butterfield Elite Mile, trying to pace the lead runners to a sub-four minute mile.

"Once I started coaching people I just let them go to the forefront, I never wanted to go to the starting line at the same time as my athletes. I didn't think that was fair,'' said Burgess.

"I coach by example so I always stayed in shape by training others. So as age 40 approached I was never sitting down and waiting for it.'' Steve Burgess: showing no signs of slowing of down.