Eventual winner Christopher Hands-Jackson was kept on his toes in the Nature Valley 5K Road Race by teenager Iziah Tucker who was barely more than a few strides adrift for much of the race.

However, in the end Hands-Jackson broke clear to win in 18min 40sec, while Tucker, 13, finished third after Robert Thomas, 16, produced a finishing kick to claim the runners-up spot in 19.01.

In the women's race it was another teenager, Josefine Meyer-Ranke, on vacation from Germany, who dominated from start to finish to win in 19.44.

On a hilly course that started and finished at the Butterfield & Vallis depot on Orange Valley Road, runners faced hot and humid conditions.

Hands-Jackson, 27, a former employee of race sponsor Butterfield & Vallis, declared himself satisfied with his victory. He was thankful that he had enough in the tank to pull away from his pursuers in the final mile.

Earlier in the race he was aware that teenager Tucker was right on his tail.

“He was close. He was running on my heels. I challenged him on the hills, and I always try to save a bit for the end,” said Hands-Jackson.

Third-placed Tucker competes at cross country and track, but likes road racing the most. “I tried to stay with the leader. I sprinted off the hills,” he said.

Tucker, who ran 19.08, was overhauled by Edwards in the final downhill stretch, but was pleased to have improved on last year's fifth place. He is preparing to compete over 1500 and 3000 metres in North Carolina later this week.

Women's race winner Meyer-Ranke, 19, is enjoying her second visit to Bermuda and decided to compete in her first road race on the island.

She is no stranger to athletics and normally competes on the track where her favoured distance is 3000.

She took off from the start and was never headed, eventually finishing fifth overall. “It was very hilly and hot; different from Germany,” she said.

“I did not know any of the others in race, so I just ran hard. I'm happy with my time.”

Gayle Lindsay, 27, was second woman in 21.18, after a close battle with Melissa Logie who was five seconds behind. Lindsay has reduced her long distance mileage during the summer months to concentrate on building track speed.

The competitive 5K walk was won by Gilda Cann in 37.49, from Gina Bradshaw in 38.47 and Rachel Ball in 43.03.