In blistering heat, the Czech Republic's Olga Firsova set what is believed to be a new women's record in the Labour Day Five Mile Road Race yesterday as she charged to an impressive victory in 29 minutes and two seconds – but she didn't have it all her own way and even felt under pressure from a surprise entry by an English university athlete who eventually took second place.

In the men's race, reigning champion Lamont Marshall was equally as impressive as he set a pace that no-one could live with and crossed the finish line in 25.29 to show a stunning return to form in the first race of the new season.

The event, organised by Swan's Running Club, attracted a team of six quality athletes from Bristol University in England, who added an extra dimension of unpredictability as lead runner Steven Mitchell and team-mate David Green were to the fore alongside Marshall and nine-time May 24 Derby winner Kavin Smith.

The England-based cross-country team runners eventually found the heat too much, with Mitchell unable to stay with Marshall as the pair reached the three-mile mark along North Shore.

Smith also passed the visiting runner to take second place in a shade over 26 minutes, with Mitchell saying his goal in the final two miles was merely 'survival'.

Marshall's father and coach Larry Marshall sr, said: "We are definitely pleased with today's performance. Lamont didn't pull away from the other guy until they were at West Pembroke School. The other guy kept looking back, which is a sign he was worried.

"Lamont put in a surge and opened up a gap and felt then that the race was won."

Runner-up Smith said afterwards he was in good shape and would have pushed even harder if he'd realised how close he was to the 26-minute mark.

Third-placed Mitchell, who has competed at the UK universities' athletic championships, said he had felt good until two miles from the finish when he 'hit the wall' and said of the race: "It was one of the most exhausting things I've experienced."

In the women's race, new Island resident Firsova fulfilled her potential in her debut outing as she bettered her pre-race expectation of 30 minutes. In the first few miles she found herself in the company of Imogen Ainsworth, 21, from Bristol University.

"The other girl was running with me for the first mile-and-a-half," said Firsova, 26. "I started to run my own race and she slowed down. The fast guys were far ahead and there was no one with me except Sylvester (Jean-Pierre).

"Between miles three and four I had a crisis," she said, but when she saw her time with a mile to go she realised she could go under 30 minutes.

Her Czech-based coach Kervitcer had suggested she might manage around 29.52 before the race. In the end she bettered that by almost a minute and said afterwards she was happy.

University student Ainsworth was second in 31:24, while Firsova's training partner Jennifer Alen was third.

Most who took part, including the six-strong team from England's Bristol University, said they had enjoyed the race and the atmosphere.

There was a delay in race results being announced, probably due to the collating of results by paper rather than by computer. As of press time official race times were being awaited, therefore the times in this report are those reported by the athletes themselves.