impressive come-from-behind fashion in a creditable time of one hour, 14 minutes and 24 seconds.

Pre-race predictions had all but handed Tracy Wright the mantle as champion...with last year's winner Mike Watson out putting together building blocks for the future, hot-shot Kavin Smith felled by an unsuspecting pothole and accounting student Terrance Armstrong unable to balance the race with his studies it appeared that it would be a stroll in the park for the 29-year-old.

But Cormack had other ideas. He tossed aside any doubts about his ability to run the shorter distance, showing tremendous power and determination as he dug deep into his energy resources, surging past Wright, leaving him for dead at the 10-mile mark just past Newstead Guest House on Harbour Road.

In what later was said to be a gesture to the media for writing him off, he gritted his teeth and pumped his fists in the air signalling the end of Wright's -- and everyone else's -- chances at winning.

Cormack obviously enjoyed the carnival atmosphere lining the course, slapping `high-fives' with jubilant spectators as he rounded Crow Lane and powered down Front Street into Hamilton with no one within 400 yards of him. He crossed the line at Bernard Park amid loud cheers and was greeted by training partner Kavin Smith, who ironically had been picked to win the race before he was forced out through injury.

Meanwhile, in what has become tradition, Sandra Mewett was once again the first female, covering the 13.1-mile course in a relatively slow 1:23:27, good for 17th overall.

Mewett, who won the event for a record seventh time, was never challenged after blowing by eventual runner-up Anna Eatherley (1:27:18) at the half-mile mark. Former winner Debbie Butterfield (1:29:14) ran her usual steady race to finish third.

Cormack came in over a minute ahead of Portuguese ace Antonio Correia who also managed to overhaul Wright along Harbour Road and was timed in 1:15:52. Wright trailed home third in 1:16:49 followed by Mark Perry (1:18:45).

Under steamy conditions not exactly conducive to a fast race, Cormack chose to bide his time and hang back early in the race before producing the burst, which carried him on to victory in this, the most prestigious event on the local road running calendar.

"It was just natural,'' said an elated Cormack as he took on much-needed fluids after the race. "I knew I was going to win the race. I knew what I had put in training and what I could do and that I would win.'' The 1988 Bermuda International Marathon champion said he was always confident of catching with the leaders -- Wright, Mark Perry and Kevin Tucker -- who had gone out quickly, separating from the pack as early as the one-mile mark.

Cormack and Correia ran together during the early going, never falling out of sight of the three front-runners.

Said Cormack: "I told him (Correia) to take it easy.

"When I saw how Mark, Kevin and Tracy went through the first three miles I said to myself `they'll all come back one by one'.'' Indeed they did. Tucker was swallowed up by the fourth mile and a spent Perry was reeled in by Cormack near the Palm Reefs Hotel.

In his pursuit for the front-runners, Cormack dropped Correia near Camp Hill.

And when Wright could not respond to the challenge it became clear that Cormack had chosen the right strategy to snatch his first Marathon Derby victory.

"I tried to get away from them early in the beginning of the race and relax later on,'' said 1990 champion Wright as he struggled to catch his breath. "I knew that I was weak on the hills so I tried to push it on the downgrade and levels but when he (Cormack) came past me I had nothing left.'' With first-place honours settled it became a battle for second, but with Wright labouring Correia cruised past him at Red Hole.

On the day it was found that the speed of the shorter-distance specialists -- Wright, Perry and Tucker -- was no match for the endurance and strength of marathoners Cormack and Correia.

Masters (40-49) winner Jeremy Ball (1:19:09) showed that his legs still have a bit of life left in them as he came in fifth overall followed by top junior (16-19) Benjamin Dyer (1:20:03) who had a strong race and will surely be one to watch out for in the future. Seventh was early pace-setter Tucker (1:20:49) with Ronue Cann (1:20:51), Steve Donnelly (1:21:21) and second Masters finisher Eddie Davis (1:21:50) rounding out the top 10.

Full results -- Page 24.

Women's report -- Page 25.

Picture special -- Page 26.

PUT IT THERE -- Errol Cormack exchanges high-fives with a supporter shortly after his fine victory yesterday.