Sean Trott enjoyed the ideal preparation for the Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby with a convincing victory in the RenaissanceRe Ten Mile Challenge on Sunday.

Leading from the start, Trott completed the challenging course, which started and ended outside the Botanical Gardens, in a winning time of 56min 26sec, more than three and-a-half minutes clear of Thomas Mills (1:00:01), with Will Green completing the podium places in 1:06:16.

Phillipe Froncioni just missed out on the top three, finishing fourth in 1:06:23, just one second ahead of Kwame Curling, who rounded out the top five.

While many struggled with the undulating course and stifling humidity, Trott felt the conditions favoured him as he continues to build towards peak form for the May 24 showpiece race.

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“I know a lot of people talked about the humidity and challenging nature of the hilly course but I always feel comfortable in that and so I felt pretty easy running it,” he said.

“I was aiming to run somewhere between 55 and 57 minutes and so that was pretty good, I’m pretty happy with the time.

“This race was very important for me to try and build up the sort of pace I want to be running in the May 24 race. It would have been great to have some more guys really pushing me, but my pacing was good and where it needs to be.

“I’ve got a little over five weeks of preparation still to go, but I’m feeling good at this stage of the season and just hopeful that I stay injury free and healthy ahead of the event.”

There was also delight for Christine Dailey, who was the first female finisher to cross the line in 1:10:00, which was good enough for eleventh place overall. Kristen Robinson finished 17 seconds adrift in twelfth, with Maria Kemiji-McDonald the third female finisher in a time of 1:12:24, which saw her claim 19th place overall.

The event also featured a five-mile race, in which Shannon Lawrence clinched victory in a winning time of 30:12, narrowly ahead of Christopher Harris in 30:24, with Anthony Harkness rounding out the top three places in a time of 35:46.

There was also a dominant display from Paul Hayward to prevail in the five-mile competitive walk, crossing the line in 55:53, nearly six minutes clear of his nearest rival Junior Watts (1:01:35) who in turn was more than a minute ahead of third-placed Wendell Hollis (1:02:44).

Nancy Andrews-Sousa claimed fourth place in 1:03:41, with Renay Arorash rounding out the top-five placings in 1:22:23.

In the five mile non-competitive run/walk, Jiheon Song was the first over the finish in 50:53, followed by Karlo Nunez (56:00) and Jenn Card (1:02:01).