Masters runner Harry Patchett led the local charge, breaking the tape in two hours, 55 minutes, 32 seconds.

Patchett was followed home by girlfriend Lynn Kynoch (3:02.25) who ran side by side for 14 miles before "stretching out'' in the latter stages. Kynoch's time was one of the personal bests recorded with the others coming from third place local Cal Steede (3:05.16), Roddy Bassett (sixth, 3:14.05), Brian Peck (ninth, 3:47) and Rahinon Pedro (11th, 3:57).

During a telephone interview Patchett was pleased at being the first local, an achievement he admittedly had not expected.

"I'm very happy to be the first local home and a bit surprised due to my training, or rather lack of it,'' said Patchett, who will tomorrow fly to Washington D.C. to join a Warwick Academy contingent visiting the US capital.

"Conditions were tremendous. It was cool and there was a good tailwind, so it doesn't get much better than that.

"Last year was extremely hot, this year was much better and correspondingly the times were as well.

"Obviously, all (of the locals) are tired, but very happy and looking forward to doing some damage to Boston's night life.'' Completing the local list were Ed Gomez (fourth, 3:11.28), Anthony Raynor (fifth, 3:14), self-dubbed `honorary Bostonian' Ray Ming (seventh, 3:26), Mark Edmunds (eighth, 3:35), Eddie Benjamin (ninth, 3:55), Steven DeSilva (10th, 4:02), Robyn Tucker (11th, 4:03) and John Buckley, who walked the course in 4:58.

The lone casualty was George Correia, who pulled out at the 24-mile mark suffering from leg cramps.