Jay Donawa returned to the Island's road racing scene with an impressive victory in the Bermuda Regiment Five-Mile Run yesterday and then predicted the upcoming May 24 Half-Marathon Derby will be a likely tussle between three runners absent from yesterday's action, namely Chris Estwanik, Lamont Marshall and Tyler Butterfield.

Donawa has finished runner-up in the Island's Bermuda Day showpiece road race a remarkable eight times, but has never won the coveted title. He expects to compete again this year, and said he was being realistic in viewing himself as a runner who would be "on the outside looking in" as the top trio do battle.

"I hope to have a positive run. I'm probably two or three years removed now from being a main contender. I'm being realistic. But on the day anything can happen," said Donawa, 37.

In yesterday's five-mile event he won by almost three minutes in a time of 26 minutes and 20 seconds on the slightly over-distance course. There was a gap of almost three minutes before runner-up Stephen Allen emerged from the heat and sunshine along South Shore to turn into the finishing chute at the gates of Warwick Camp.

Former World Cross Country Championship runner Donawa, whose last race was the NACAC Cross Country Championships in Tobago, in March, said his running this year was more for fun and he is not training with the same mindset and intensity that he once did. However, he has noticed an encouraging return to form after a foot injury that sidelined him for a lengthy period last year.

Speaking about the May 24 Half-Marathon, he said he was putting no pressure on himself this year and views two-time champ Estwanik as the favourite, adding: "Lamont (Marshall) is another of the favourites the way he has been running this spring, and Tyler (Butterfield) has done well in the triathlons. Those two will be the contenders trying to beat Chris. I'm on the outside looking in."

In yesterday's Regiment race, Donawa was kept company in the first half-mile by eventual third-placer Russel Ascento before he moved clear and ran a solo race. He concentrated on running at pace but without setting any specific time goal. Donawa estimated his five-mile time to be about 26 minutes exactly as the course distance is believed to be between around 5.1 or 5.2 miles.

Also making her first race appearance since March was Jennifer Alen, who took the women's title as she came home ninth overall in 33.12. Her nearest rivals were Deborah Blaxell (37.48) and Laura Keyes (40.20).

Afterwards Alen said she was about a minute down on her performance last year, when she finished just behind Victoria Fiddick. With Fiddick and a number of the other leading women runners absent, Alen missed the added impetus of having close competition to push her to a faster time.

She also admitted that she has struggled somewhat in road races lately and, once May 24 is out of the way, she intends to switch her focus to track racing.

"I feel I've gotten a bit stronger as a runner, but maybe it has cost me some speed," she said. She is aiming to finish in the top three amongst the women on May 24 (she was second last year), but noted that this year's race is shaping up to have a strong field, with both the 2008 champion Ashley Estwanik and the 2009 champ Victoria Fiddick likely to compete.

Yesterday's five-mile race had 59 finishers. Barefoot runner Vanessa Madeiros was a noteworthy winner of the women's 20-39 age category in a time of 40.47.

In a three-mile fun walk, held in conjunction with the road race, Mia Pauwels led home the 24 finishers in a time of 35.49. Second and third finishers Gilda Cann and Mauretta Stoneham had the same time of 37.13. First man back was Edward Van-Lowe, fifth overall in 41.13.

Five-Mile Run age category winners:

Men: (Open) Jay Donawa 26.20; (16-19) Nikki Bascome 35.32; (20-39) Stephen Allen; (40-49) William Wood 32.28; (50-59) Mike Osborn 35.01.

Women: (Open) Jennifer Alen 33.15; (20-39) Vanessa Madeiros 40.47; (40-49) Deborah Blaxell 37.48; Darnell Wynn 48.44.