Lamont Marshall was all smiles after living up to his pre-race expectations in Saturday’s Bermuda 10K.

The Bermuda runner entered the race confident of earning a place on the podium. And he did just that, finishing second overall behind Benjamin Meto, of Kenya, in a personal-best time of 31min 19sec, to lead the local field across the finish line.

It was the second time in the past four years that Marshall has finished second in the event, having followed in Chris Estwanik in 2012.

“Overall, I am pleased with my time and second place,” Marshall said. “This is the first race ever in my life I never looked back once, just because I was so focused on chasing first. I have a notorious bad habit of looking back, but I just kept to my pace.

“The first half was very fast and I was through five miles in just under 25 minutes. So I said, ‘OK, if I can keep this pace for this last mile, I will be around 31 minutes’ — and I did that.

“The conditions were not favourable and it was a bit windy at times. The wind and those last two hills really made it challenging.

“Coming up North Shore and Palmetto Road, I felt I was closing in on the frontrunner [Meto] and the home crowd was definitely giving me a lot of encouragement.

“But that last mile, which takes you from North Shore to Palmetto Road and then Frog Lane, is definitely challenging when you are trying to give it your all and you’ve got those obstacles.”

Teenager Tyler Smith also produced a phenomenal run, finishing second among the local male runners and sixth overall in a personal-best time of 35:29.

“I was very pleased with my performance, which is my fastest and highest finish in this event,” the BHS pupil said. “My goal was 35 minutes, so I’m happy with my time, which is a good two minutes off from last year’s.

“I took it out at a good pace but conserved enough energy so I would have something on the last hill, which always kills everyone at the end.”

Rounding off the podium among the local men was Olympic cross-country skier Tucker Murphy, who came home in 36:36.

Deon Breary was the first local female runner and fourth overall after crossing the line in 41:32.

“I was very pleased with my time,” Breary said. “Last night [Friday] I did the Bermuda Triangle Half Challenge and Adult Mile, so doing the 10K was pretty hard on my legs. My legs were very tired, but I put on a good performance. The hills were not easy, but I did my best.

“It was a bit windy on the North Shore side, but the temperature was comfortable for running.”

Chloe Kempe was the second local female runner and 63d overall in 43:46, followed by Kristen Palmer who was 78th in 44:37.