For a third consecutive year Lamont Marshall and Victoria Fiddick ran out victors in the Bacardi 8K road race, maintaining their unbeaten records in one of the Island's newest events.

Almost 300 entrants in the road race and walk completed the five-mile route along rain-soaked roads, with a heavy downpour mid-race adding to the challenging conditions.

However, there was no stopping Marshall and by the turnaround point near Spanish Point, just under two miles into the race, he had built a sizeable gap between himself and his nearest rival, triathlon-specialist Evan Naude.

For Marshall, 25, it turned into a fast tempo run. He had the satisfaction of lowering his own course record by three seconds to 25 minutes 25 seconds – albeit less than a hoped for assault on the 25-minute barrier, having set a new Bermudian national 10K road record seven days earlier in Washington DC where he clocked 31.02.

"He was pleased to break his course record. He was trying to get under 25 minutes but without Chris (Estwanik), Jay (Donawa) or Kavin (Smith) showing up it just became a long tempo run," said his father and coach Larry Marshall sr.

"Most records are broken when you have some competition, especially in the first few miles. Last week when he ran his 10K time he had five or six quality runners with him the whole race."

"This is what Kavin and Jay went through too. If none of the others showed up they ended up just running long tempo runs in races."

The Devonshire athlete was into his final mile when the heavens opened to deluge runners on the course. Marshall had just gone through the four-mile point on St. John's Road in 20.07.

His father added: "The last mile was a bit difficult because of the rain and it maybe slowed him five or 10 seconds, but he still wouldn't have broken 25 minutes."

Marshall has also now decided to accept an invitation to run in the KPMG Front Street Mile elite race. It will be the first time he has taken part in the showcase event on Front Street during Bermuda International Race Weekend.

Second place in yesterday's 8K went to Evan Naude in 27.37, with first master Gary Raynor third in 28.44.

In the women's race, reigning champion Fiddick led from start to finish, coming home 10th overall in 31.14, just one second outside her course record.

She is currently concentrating on training for the Race Weekend mile and Half-Marathon and said: "It's hard to do a race after a hard training week. I could not remember my exact time last year, but when I saw the finish clock I pushed up that last hill. But I was not thinking about my time today."

Fiddick, 43, loves to run in the rain, but admitted yesterday's conditions were not perfect because of the high humidity. "I don't mind the rain but not when I have to breathe it. Today was not a day for personal bests but I'm glad I competed."

Second woman was Jennifer Alen, 25, who was 12th overall in 31.52.

"I was over a minute quicker than last year," she said. "It was nice to run in the rain and I'm pleased with my run."

Alen said she could see Fiddick up ahead during the final mile along Pitts Bay Road but was unable to close the 40-second gap.

Her focus now is on the Front Street Mile time trials next month. If she qualifies, she intends to run the mile race and probably the International Race Weekend 10K in January.

Third in the women's race was Joanna Shillington in 35.08.

In the 8K walk there were new men's and women's champions. Caleb Jean-Pierre was first overall in 54.59 while Sheen Young was first woman and third overall in 56.11.