Sean Trott and Gayle Lindsay made it a hat-trick of victories in the Ed Sherlock 8K road race as they claimed the men’s and women’s titles, respectively.

For Lindsay, it was her third consecutive title in the event, having topped the podium last year and in 2018.

While Trott retained the title he won last year. He was also the champion in 2013.

It is less than a month since Trott, 30, finished second in the marathon during the Bermuda Triangle Challenge. He used the 8K as testing ground to recalibrate for shorter, faster races. He won comfortably in 28min 3sec.

“Coming off the marathon a few weeks ago, I took a week and a half off. I’ve been building back up and just wanted to test it,” he said.

“I’ve got to put some speedwork back in, to switch from marathon mode to the shorter stuff.

“It is pretty hard because your legs get used to going at a steady pace all the time, now I’m trying to chop it down and get the legs turning over.”

He had hoped to get in to the 27-minute range, but was pleased with his time. “The course is tough, so I can’t complain,” he said.

Trott is excited by the prospect of a high calibre race in the Bermuda Day Half Marathon Derby in May. Reigning three-times champion Lamont Marshall, and six-times winner Chris Estwanik have both indicated they plan to run.

“I’m building up for May 24 and getting some shorter quicker stuff into training. I definitely need to get the turnover going if I want to be competitive,” he said.

“It’s definitely exciting to see them [Marshall and Estwanik] in it, especially having Chris back again.

“I’ve also seen a lot of guys improving on the local scene, like Sammy DeGraff and Denis Mbelenzi.”

Second man was Tom Mills in 29:39, followed by Kwame Curling in 29:46.

Among the women, Lindsay continued her winning ways, adding to victories in the Front Street Mile local women’s race, and Butterfield and Vallis 5K last month.

This year’s race distance was reduced from the 10k course it was run on during the past three years.

Lindsay, 31, said: “I was glad that they cut off the extra two kilometres. I always forget how tough the course is.

“I went out a bit harder and then held a consistent pace. I ran with a group most of the way. Jonas [Muir Wood] was just up ahead, so I was trying to chase him down, then Ronae [Burgess] overtook me in the last kilometre. There were a good few people who helped to push it along a bit.”

Her time was 32:25. Second was Bella Wright in 34:32, followed by Laura Wright, a former champion, in 35:07.

It was the 27th running of the annual event, which honours one of Bermuda’s most remarkable distance runners.

Sherlock, 88, won the island’s signature May 24 road race six times between 1956 and 1962. He is one of only four athletes to have been crowned champion six times or more, in the 111-year-old annual race.

He was at the 8K to meet runners and present medals and trophies.

The race was also the first in this year’s Swan’s Running Club Legends Series. Athletes registered for the four-race series accumulate points which go towards the final rankings.

There is still time to enter the series before the second event, the Ray Swan 8K, on March 22. A grand draw for all series’ entrants has a top prize of a flight, accommodation and entry to Atlanta’s Peachtree 10K in July.

An 8K walk, held in conjunction with Ed Sherlock race, was won by Junior Watts in 59:17, from Britt Reiss, first woman, in 1:03:54, and Gilda Cann in 1:04:59.

Age division winners in the 8K road race, among the men, were: Shannon Lawrence (master) 31:16; Scott Neil (senior master) 38:23; Tommy Sinclair (over-60) 38:20.

Among the women, age division winners were: Nicola Hallett (master) 44:20; Carol Griffith (senior master) 47:20; Mayberline Black (over-60) in 51:16.

Register for the Legends race series at www.racedayworld.com