Half-Marathon yesterday, but for someone who has totally dominated local road racing over the past couple of years it won't go down on his resume as the most convincing of wins.

A fast finishing Brett Forgesson kept Smith firmly in his sights and at the line had closed to within just two seconds.

Smith clocked one hour, 14 minutes, 52 seconds and Forgesson, Bermuda's top finisher at last month's New York Marathon, 1:14.54.

The Island's two leading distance runners, however, never threatened to relieve the sponsors of a $2,500 bonus which had been offered for a winning time under two hours, eight minutes. And Smith was more than five minutes outside his national half-marathon record of 1:09.21.

Smith had said prior to the race that winning was his main objective and he wouldn't be distracted by the cash bonus. And he appeared to stick to that plan, maintaining a steady pace throughout.

Third place went to Jamal Hart (1:15.35), followed by Kevin Tucker (1:16.44) and Tracy Wright (1:17.37) in a men's field of 49 runners.

Top master (over 40) was Rod Allen in 1.17.55 while leading senior master (over 50) was Jake Mahoney in 1:29.03.

Karen Adams, meanwhile, dominated the women's race, winning by almost three minutes from the evergreen Jane Christie.

Adams clocked 1:30.09 while Christie, the first master, came home in 1:33.04, followed in third place by Julia Hawley in 1:34.50, Penelope Butterfield (1:37.19) and Debbie Lloyd (1:41.01).

First senior master was Dorothy Gilchrist in 1:55.10.

Next up on the road racing calendar is Sunday's Deloitte and Touche relay.

FIRST HOME -- Kavin Smith, with Brett Forgesson hot on his heels, crosses the line to win yesterday's half-marathon.