Berkeley Institute’s Kyrah Scraders and Saltus’ Ashley Irby blew away the competition as they both set new records in the Senior School Girls’ and Middle School Girls’ divisions last night.

Scraders, who won the same title last year, hit the tape in five minutes, 19.74 seconds, 17 hundredths of a second faster then the previous record of 5:19.91 set by Ashley Berry in 2006.

“I wasn’t sure if I could get the record, but when I saw the time I knew I would be close and ran as fast as I could,” Scraders said. “We always run good races against each other, and with them pushing me I had to run the whole time, and I’m happy for the rest of the girls who put on a good performance.”

Quaashie Douglas, of Bermuda Institute, (5:36.35) and Scraders’ school-mate Jordan Bascome (5:38.52) came second and third.

The defending champion set out with Douglas, Bascome, and Quinnae Outerbridge in the early stages of the race, but put in a strong surge on the return leg to claim a comfortable victory.

Defending Middle School champion Irby set the standard before Scraders’s impressive performance, beating the Middle School record that Scraders had set four years ago (5:31.1).

Irby’s time of five minutes, 27.54 seconds, was more than three seconds faster then the previous record. BHS pair Messiah Greaves (5:30.92), and Mikaela Outerbridge (5:32.23) came second and third.

“I felt good coming into the race, and I knew that if I could maintain my pace I would be in a good position heading into the final stages,” Irby said.

“The conditions were good, there wasn’t any wind and for the most part it was a good run out there, so to win again this year, and to break the record is great.

“When you race against people you know can beat you if you’re not up to your best only pushes you to do your best.”

In the Senior School Boys’ division, Warwick Academy’s David Darrell (4:48.68) led from start to finish on his way to winning his first title in the age group.

Second place went to Daniel Oatley (4:58.8), of Saltus, while Somersfield Academy student Tyler Smith (4:59.45) finished third.

In the Middle School Boys’ category, Aaron Jacobs (5:05.25), of TN Tatem, was first across the line, followed by Jaden Ming (5:10.15) and Alex Pilgrim (5:15.5), both of Warwick Academy.

Warwick Academy’s Nick Pilgrim (5:38.93) cruised to victory in the Primary School Boys’ division.

T’Syi Showers (5:51.31) of West End Primary, and Kahzi Sealey (5:54.45) of Elliott Primary followed Pilgrim to the line, finishing second and third respectively.

West Pembroke Primary student Jade Johnston (5:51.21) won the Primary School Girls’ category, with Selah Tuzo (5:55.65) of Northlands Primary, and Johnston’s school-mate Tesyah-Mahle Astwood (5:59.74) finished second and third respectively.