Lamont Marshall and Tyler Butterfield secured podium finishes in the PWC Bermuda Half Marathon on Sunday to cap a phenomenal showing by local runners in this year’s Bermuda Marathon Weekend.

Marshall finished second in 1:09.22 and Butterfield third in 1:12.11 with their outstanding performances coming hot on the heels of compatriot Dage Minors’ second triumph in the Butterfield Mile men’s elite race two days before.

“It’s really great to see the locals running; Dage won the mile and Lamont got second,” professional triathlete Butterfield told The Royal Gazette.

“Bermuda running seems to be really strong and that’s what you need for the young children to be inspired to keep doing this sport. Other local athletes are doing well so it’s great.”

As for his own showing, Butterfield said: “Three years ago I think I ran 1:11 so it was a minute slower, but I am almost 40. In three years I’ll take a minute slower.

“It’s a hard course but it’s a lot of fun. That’s why here you don’t really look at times as much as your placing, but you still have your previous times if you’ve done that course before and so I was as pleased as I could be.

“It’s an incredible weekend and so fun to come home. It’s a great weekend and I nothing negative to say, everything positive.”

American JJ Santana, who won the Chubb Bermuda Trial Half Challenge, crossed the line in the half marathon in 1:08.25 to complete an impressive double after also leading the field across the line in the BF&M 10K Run and Walk 24 hours earlier.

“It feels great,” Santana said. “This weather was beautiful and I was just running, I love it. The vibe out here is amazing. I don’t think I passed one person who didn’t encourage me.”

Santana was among a trio who broke away almost from the gun and while Butterfield fell off the pace around the first mile, Marshall managed to go with Santana until halfway through the race when the American pulled clear to round off three days of competition in style.

It’s my first time on the island but I think I’ll definitely be back,” Santana said. “I love it.

“The vibe here is cool and you can tell it means a lot to the community and all the people and that’s cool. I am a very laid- back person and the island culture I can feel is laid back, so I love the vibe.

“I think the people and the vibe was the best part of being here.”

Great Britain’s Ellie Stevens claimed the women’s marathon title in 1:23.45 to complete an impressive double of her own after also claiming top spot in the BF&M 10K Run the previous day.

“It feels good. It was such a beautiful day and it was raining in the middle which cooled us down, which was nice,” she said.

“It’s such a beautiful island and it was so nice to be able to get to view it whilst running and doing what we love.

“The course was absolutely gorgeous. I thought it was going to be hillier but then all of the hills came in the last four miles so it was a good job we saved a little for the end.”

The 38-year-old ran her own race after making a last-minute decision to enter with training partner Christina Vergara Aleshire, who ultimately finished third.

“It was never in the plan,” Stevens added. “We came to do the mile and 10K and then we wanted to do a training run so this was fun to do with people cheering you on your way.”

“We ran together up until four miles to go and then I just wanted to push on a little bit so that I could get the win,” she added. “The competitive side of me didn’t want to just sit in.”

Amanda Nurse finished second in the women’s field in 1:24.31 with fellow American Vergara Aleshire finishing in 1:25.24 to add to her second-placed finish in the 10K Run and Walk a day earlier.

“It was a lot of fun,” Vergara Aleshire said. “A beautiful day to run and the crowd was just incredible cheering us on the whole time. It’s just gorgeous. I kept on looking around in awe because of how pretty it is here.”

Ashley Couper was the first local in the women’s field, finishing fifth in her category and 26th overall in 1:29.25.