Stephen Allen held off a late charge from college student Juma Mouchette to retain his KPMG Bermuda Invitational Local Men’s Mile title.

The Jamaican runner led the field from start to finish and had enough gas left in the tank over the final metres to keep Mouchette at bay, stopping the clock at four minutes, 47 seconds to extend his dominance in the event.

“Winning once was good, but to defend the title is even harder so this win is special,” Allen said.

The policeman and football referee’s time was 14 seconds slower than his personal best which stands at 4:33.

“The time is not fast, but I’m happy for the win,” he said.

Carifta Games medallist Mouchette put up a good fight. But he ultimately ran out of real estate coming in and had to be content for second place for the second successive year.

His time of 4:47 was seven seconds slower than the 4:40 he ran the previous year.

Finishing third for the second straight year was Ryan Wilson, who came home in 4:52. Wilson’s time was three seconds slower than the 4:49 he ran last year.

Cruising to victory in the local women’s mile was multiple winner and course record holder, Ashley Estwanik.

Estwanik led from start to finish and virtually had the race sewn up at the halfway mark after putting considerable distance between herself and the chasing pack.

She crossed the finish line in 5:11, 14 seconds slower than her race record which stands at 4:47.

“I’m actually happy with my time,” Estwanik said. “I am really focusing on the half marathon so I am really, really pleased to run that.

“There was no wind and if I was in perfect shape tonight was the night for breaking records.

“It is just the perfect night for running; a bit humid, but it is never still for Front Street Mile.” Past winner Jennifer Alen (5:18) and Deon Breary (5:31) finished second and third.

“Deon and Jenny really pushed me from the beginning so I just went with it and it felt great over the last quarter,” Estwanik added.

“Probably about halfway through I got a few steps ahead of them and coming down the straightaway is just awesome. It is so much fun running into this crowd and I absolutely love it.”

Estwanik warmed up for the local women’s mile by participating in the KPMG Open Mile, the opening race of the Bermuda Triangle Challenge.

“I kind of ran fast but still tried to make it within my comfort zone, and I felt pretty good in the second race,” she said.

Glen Wilks won the Male Masters Mile in a time of 5:18 and was followed across the line by Kent Richardson (5:35) and Sean Kelly (5:50) who rounded off the podium finishers.