Former track star Mike Watson emerged from a self-imposed exile to show that he's lost little of his speed as he led home the senior male qualifiers in the weekend's Bank of Butterfield Mile trials at National Stadium.

Watson, who was reportedly upset he hadn't yet been invited to compete in the Elite Mile which will be the feature event of the January Front Street races, scorched around the track in four minutes, 31.7 seconds.

That's well outside his personal best but some nine seconds faster than the winning time of 4:40.8 clocked by Neil Halliday in winning the senior men's race last January.

Defending champion Halliday was only the 10th fastest qualifier over the weekend in 4:59.4.

Watson, who has competed little on the roads or the track in the last year, could still be invited to race in the Elite event as he was some four seconds quicker than the second fastest qualifier Steve Burgess (4:35.7) who since the inaugural Front Street Mile has been used by organisers as the main event's "rabbit'', taking the overseas stars through a brisk first half mile before dropping out.

No overseas runners have yet been named for the 1995 Elite race although it's understood Poland's Michal Bartoszak will defend his title.

Fast improving Jamal Hart, who finished third in the men's race in 4:48.4 last January, was the third fastest qualifier in 4:39.0, while Sharif Taylor (4:48.7) and Winton Woodley (4:50.0) rounded out the top five.

January's senior women's race promises to be a close affair after defending champ Jennifer Fisher and Karen Adams, running in separate heats, clocked almost identical times.

Adams crossed the line in 5:16.5 while Fisher, who won last year in 5:17.4, was timed in her heat in 5:16.8.

Julia Hawley was third quickest in 5:20.7 followed by Donna Watson (5:22.9) and Jane Christie (5:32.2).

More than 350 athletes turned out for the trials, the bulk of them attempting to qualify in the four school divisions.

As expected Berkeley Institute dominated the secondary boys division with defending champion Michael Donawa blitzing the field in 4:43.6. He won last January in 4:54.2.

Collin Anderson, who has shown good form in cross country events this season, was second fastest among the boys in 4:51.8, while fellow Berkeley classmates Garon Wilkinson (4:59.5) and Damon Ming (5:02.7) completed the top four.

Stephen Fahy of Saltus was fifth best in 5:09.2.

Laura Turner of Roger Chaffee School, another athlete who has made her presence felt in cross country this year, clocked an impressive 5:41.7 to lead the secondary girl qualifiers.

But Bermuda Institute's Velvet Smith who won the primary girls title 11 months ago, showed that she will also be a threat in the senior division, racing to the second fastest time of 5:52.5 among the 20 qualifiers.

Elisha Miller of Saltus (5:56.0), Patrina Swan of Berkeley (6:03.3) and Suella Matthews of Saltus (6:05.4) completed the top five.

In primary boys action, West End's Nasir Wade put in the best effort of 5:36.9.

But defending champion Tyler Butterfield of Saltus, who won this event in 5:03.2 last January, was only the sixth fastest in 5:51.5.

Finishing ahead of Butterfield were Prospect's Jeremiah Smith in 5:39.2, Phillip Thomas of Victor Scott in 5:39.8, Nadir Wade of West End in 5:40.2 and Richard Walcott of Somerset Primary in 5:40.6.

Shimeka Telford of Southampton Glebe completed her four laps of the track in 6:26.8 to take the honours in a large field of primary girls. Gilbert Institute's Akilah Mills in 6:29.0 was next best followed by Jaynae Dillas of Prospect in 6:32.6, Mylinda Johnson of Victor Scott in 6:37.6 and Emma Rego of Gilbert in 6:38.1.

The six Mile finals along with the Elite and Celebrity events will kick off the 1995 International Race Weekend in a month's time. Following Friday night's action on Front Street, the International 10K will be run on Saturday and the International Marathon and Half-marathon on Sunday.