The beaming smile and glow on Tamika Miranda’s face pretty much summed up how much winning last night meant to her.

With her parents, family and some of her Heron Bay School students cheering her on from the sidelines, Miranda secured the top spot on the podium in the local women’s mile after holding off Jennifer Alen, the defending champion, in an exciting sprint to the finish.

The great-niece of road running legend Sir Stanley Burgess executed a well thought out game plan to lead the field across the line in a winning time of 5min 20sec.

“Tonight was more a strategy-type race and I think we were all making sure we can win and we all did that, so it was not like we went out really fast,” Miranda, the national 800-metre record holder, said.

“When we ran through the quarter I saw the clock and I think we were probably over 1:20, which is not going to give five minute miles.

“I think when you do a race like that it becomes a strategic race to see who can kick it at the end, and that’s what happened tonight.

“We probably should have had faster times considering the conditions. It was a beautiful night and it’s usually raining and really, really cold.”

Miranda was among a small bunch that also included Alen and Deon Breary which broke away from the field from the outset.

Breary, the past Bermuda Day Half Marathon winner, eventually fell off the pace at the halfway stage, leaving Miranda and Alen to battle it out between them.

The race was still wide open less than 500 metres from the finish line, before Miranda finally took control and held off the charging Alen coming in.

Miranda was delighted to put on a dazzling show on the big stage, especially for her students who were thrilled to see their teacher stand tallest on the podium.

“I had all my students, my parents and family out watching and it was very, very special night,” Miranda said.

“In my classroom this morning the kids were asking me all these questions and it’s really an awesome feeling to know that I can share that experience and share what it’s like to race like this — especially with my girls.”

Alen took second in 5:23.6 and was followed across the line by Breary who retained her masters’ title in 5:37.1.