OTIS Robinson completed his second 5K in New Jersey in the space of five days yesterday, finishing first in his age group and 17th overall in an event that featured 1,100 finishers.

The Swan's Running Club athlete ran a more even-paced race than he had last Saturday, when he finished second in the Goodwill 5000m race at Montclair, west of New York.

In the Dick Meighan Memorial 5K, at Upper Creek, NJ, he finished in an almost identical time of 17 minutes 25 seconds, but was happier with his more disciplined pace which saw him run through the opening mile in 5:08 before making the most of a downhill second mile to reach the two-mile marker in 9:59 before chalking up a 15:30 time for three miles.

"I felt it was one of the best races I've yet done," said Robinson, speaking from New Jersey immediately after the race.

"The first mile was mostly uphill and then the second mile was downhill. There was a little bit of uphill towards the end also." In contrast to the freezing conditions last weekend, yesterday's Thanksgiving Day event was held in more pleasant temperatures.

Robinson was delighted to finish as the winner in the 30-34 age category, and to be so high up in a large and competitive field, which had 22 runners dipping below 18 minutes. The race winner was New Jersey's Richard Yeats who ran a competitive 15:12 to beat his nearest rival by more than 40 seconds.

First woman was New Jersey's Audrey Ting in 19:22.

Robinson will now return to Bermuda to concentrate on qualifying for January's Front Street Mile showpiece ¿ where he hopes to run in memory of his late friend, Mount Saint Agnes Academy PE teacher Toby Colombe, who died in a road accident in Smith's Parish last Sunday.

This Sunday will see the running of the annual Bermuda Track and Field Association Fall Half Marathon from St. George's to Hamilton.

The 13.1 mile road race has seen quick times in the last few years, with Jay Donawa and Kavin Smith both running sub-1:11 times in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

Donawa is unlikely to race this year as he continues to recover from his debut marathon outing in New York. The women's race was won last year by Dawn Richardson, who ducked under 1:30, but like Donawa she is also recovering from marathon race exertions although in her case it was the Chicago event in October.

She was able to run in the Bacardi 8K road race last weekend, where she was second to Victoria Fiddick.

Fiddick has signalled her intention to take part in the race.

Late entries for the BTFA race will be taken today and Saturday between the hours of 12 noon and 6 p.m. at Suite 401 of the International Centre at 28 Bermudiana Road. Race numbers and race route details can also be collected at these times.

The race is sponsored by Ashlan Sports. A 5K walk will also be held in conjunction with the main event. The walk will start and finish at the Bulls Head car park (Canal Road side).

Running and walking dressed in festive outfits will be the name of the game on December 1 at the Botanical Gardens when the Salvation Army holds its first Elf and Santa Shuffle around the grounds at 4 p.m.

There will be activities including puppet show, crafts, and food from 3 p.m. onwards. Those taking part in the shuffle, which will be over a distance of a mile, will be encouraged to dress for the occasion (there will be prizes for best costumes) and to bring an unwrapped child's toy to donate to the collection that will be given to children of less well-off families. Further details are available by calling 29-SANTA (297-2682).

On the same day the National Cross Country Championships will also take place in the Botanical Gardens ¿ but in the morning. Runners in the championships should brace themselves for something longer than a one mile run.