Jay Donawa drew upon his extensive experience as a cross country competitor to secure his seventh consecutive national title with a formidable performance around a seven-mile course in the Botanical Gardens.

And for the first time this cross-country season he found himself closely challenged for much of the race as Lamont Marshall pursued him over the tough course.

With runners having to content with high heat and humidity it was those with the best pace judgement and strength who flourished in the Bermuda Track and Field Association National Championships.

A close women’s race saw Dawn Richardson finish her pre-Las Vegas Marathon training with a strong showing to stay ahead of rival Victoria Fiddick.

Despite his excellence in long distance road races, Jay Donawa’s first love as a runner is cross country and he showed his off-road pedigree again with a solid run-to-tape victory, lapping all but Marshall in the seven-loop race.

One week after running a near-personal best half marathon of 1:10:17 on a “hilly and windy” course in Philadelphia, he made his intentions clear as he led the 11-strong men’s race from the start.

“What enabled me to be successful was my vast experience at cross-country. I utilised that and was able to dissect the course and run hard in some areas and relax in others,” Donawa said.

“It’s quite a challenging course. For the first few laps Lamont was right there. He has proved himself all year and I knew I had to run at my very best to win. Having him in the race pushed me to another level. I was able to pull away at about the fourth or fifth lap and gain a comfortable lead.”

In the end he won in a time of 35:33, two minutes clear of Marshall.

The national title rounds off a satisfying season that has seen him chalk up two 1:10 half marathons in Philadelphia — on different courses — run a swift 15:22 in the Crimestoppers 5K race where he was second to Marshall by three seconds, and win all five of the domestic cross-country races in which he competed.

He now has his sights on the North American, Central American and Caribbean Cross Country Championships (NACAC) in Florida next March and would love to see Bermuda field a team of four to challenge for honours.

He spoke to Marshall after Saturday’s event about the possibility of him and brother Larry competing at the NACAC. Having travelled as a junior himself in the company of the likes of Tracey Wright, Terrance Armstrong and Jamal Hart, Donawa sees himself as fulfilling the role of the senior athlete to guide Bermuda’s new breed of runners onto the international stage.

The fourth team member for the NACAC squad could be old friend and current May 24 Marathon Derby champion Armstrong, Donawa feels. He added: “I hope the Association will give us the opportunity.”

Mark Albouy secured the senior masters’ title over a four-lap course as did Midge Oliver in the corresponding women’s category.

Amongst the junior national champions was Trey Simons who won the seven-strong under-14 race.

Tiara Simmons is the new under-20 women’s champion. Matthew Spring was top under-17 and Alexis Bean was the leading under-17 woman. Taylor-Ashley Bean was fastest under-14 girl. In the younger categories Nakeno Creighton was the best of the under-12 boys and Shuntae Hendrickson the girls’ under-12 champion. Paul Smith was lead under-10 boy and Dezhane West best under-10 girl.