Ben Claridge clinched the Butterfield Invitational Mile title at the first attempt to dash training partner Dage Minors’ hopes of a third successive victory on Front Street on Friday night.

Claridge, a 27-year-old from England, led the 15-strong field across the line in 4min 10.76sec to claim top spot on the podium.

“It feels incredible. Dage brought me over so thank you to Dage,” an elated Claridge told The Royal Gazette.

“I train with Dage and to be honest when they called his name before the start of the race that got me going. I was like ‘that is pretty cool’ and it was a great event. He will not like me saying it but it is 3-0 now so hopefully he can get me back next time.”

Claridge broke away from the pack heading to the second turn and maintained his position the rest of the way, crossing the finish line more than three seconds ahead of runner-up Danny Cosgrove.

“It went off kind of slow and then someone really kicked on,” Claridge said.

“I thought I am just going to track him and by the time I got back to him I had 10 to15 metres on the rest of the field, turned the last corner and when you have got that gap you can ease off a bit

“I was running within myself and then with 200 metres to go you just give it what you have got and luckily it was enoughy.”

Cosgrove, who came home in 4:13.61, was also thrilled to secure a spot on the podium in his first attempt at the race.

“I did really well and I ‘m happy with the effort and with the place,” he said.

“I saw the field and I was very surprised with some of the additions and was not sure how I would match up. But I felt good, especially on that downhill and just managed to squeeze into second. It is my first time here and I love Bermuda.”

Christian Harrison (4:13.81) pipped two-times defending champion Minors for third in an exciting photo finish at the line.

“It was definitely a close finish and a lot of energy from the crowd,” Harrison said. “A little downhill on the end, so I was happy how it turned out. It is my second time here and I am pleased with how the race went.”

Minors (4:13.86) finished five-hundredths of a second behind Harrison and Andrew Wacker (4:17.85) to round off the top five runners.

Also flying Bermuda’s flag in the race was Ryan Outerbridge, who finished eighth in 4:27.19.

Another runner savouring glory on her race debut was Anna Vess, who claimed Invitational Mile women’s honours in in a time of 4:52.92, five seconds clear of her nearest rival.

“It is my first time here and it was really amazing and such a fun race,” Vess said.

“It started off strong and I felt like I had a good group and I could feel Ellie [runner-up Ellie Stevens] next to me the whole time and that made it so fun.

“It was a little scary at the end because I could not tell exactly how much we had left, but it was good. The conditions were not bad. I thought it was going to be a little windy out there but it was really nice.”

Vess was satisfied with her time, which was a personal best on a road course.

“I was pleased for the course with the two hairpin turns. I think it is not too bad,” she added. On a track I have run a 4:37 before but on the road I think this was my PB.”

Stevens finished second in 4:55.70, her fastest on a road course, to claim the silver medal with a performance which exceeded her expectations in her second appearance in the race.

“I am super happy as I thought I would be bringing up the back markers tonight here with me being an old lady,” the 40-year-old said.

“I was trying to go for the win obviously but she Vess was just too strong at the end. When we turned into the wind we put the hammer down but she was just strong on that last 200 metres.

“But it was really good fun and it is so awesome to be here. This is my second time here; I was out here in 2023 and I finished second then also.”

Gina McNamara finished third in 5:06.72 to claim the bronze medal, while Karley Rempel crossed line in 5:08.74 and Sydney Leiher in 5:09.95 to round off the top-five finishers among the 17-strong women’s field.

The final two races on the night were restricted to local adult runners and it was no surprise to see Christine Dailey take out the women’s race in 5:29.19. Dailey beat Meghan Diel (5:33.61) and Megan Berry (5:38.34) to claim island bragging rights.

The local men’s race was won by another prominent member of Bermuda’s running community with Adam Prunty breaking the tape in 4:42.35 ahead of Numair Khan (5:00.82) and Colin Long (5:00.83)