Ethiopian runner Teklu Terefera Deneke crowned his International Race Weekend Marathon debut with a comfortable win over reigning champion El-Afoui Boubker.

Deneke, 29, battled breezy conditions yesterday to post a time of 2:22.27, which was eight seconds quicker than Moroccan Boubker, 40, who has won the title six-times.

Ukrainian Oleksandr Golovnytskyy, 23, finished in third place in a time of 2:44.20, while 18-year-old Ben Jones of the USA came earned fourth place in 2:53.23.

"I am very happy to win the race as it's the first time I have competed in it," said Deneke. "The conditions were very windy so I could not achieve my dream of breaking the record finishing time – it was very difficult."

Russian Margaret Plaksina, 31, was the first elite female runner to cross the finishing line with a time of 2:53.0, beating off her compatriot Zinaida Semanova, 2:57.32, and Canadian Stephanie Hodge, 3:10.33.

Once again the first Bermudian male to finish was the evergreen Peter Mills with a time of 2:58.03, which was six seconds faster than his winning time in 2008. Dawn Richardson repeated her success of two years ago by winning the local female race in a time of 3:13.28.

After completing the gruelling 26.2 miles, Mills, 43, said his third race weekend marathon win would be his final bow.

"I've won this race three times now so I'm going to call it a day although I'll still be competing in other races. I primarily do triathlon," he said. "I was pretty pleased with my time and I got the most out of my body.

"From Admiralty House to Devil's Hole the conditions were very windy and after 24 miles I pretty much hit the brick wall and struggled."

Mills said he was disappointed more local leading lights had not competed in the full marathon and urged the likes of Chris Estwanik, Jay Donawa and Lamont Marshall to sign up for next year's race.

"Bermuda only hosts one full marathon each year and it should be a lot bigger race than it is," he said. "I'd like to see a lot more of the top local guys race like Monty, Jay and I think Chris will do next year's race."

Richardson, 37, who won Saturday's 10K, said having competed in the Bermuda Triangle Challenge she feared she may have 'crashed and burned' during yesterday's race.

"It was particularly windy at Spanish Point and having run in Friday's Front Street Mile and the 10K I thought I might crash and burn in the marathon, but thankfully I didn't."

She added: "I'd just like to say a big thank you to everyone who came out to watch the Invitational Race Weekend. I thought the spectators were excellent, especially coming out to support the 10K in the pouring rain.

"I had no idea so many people knew my name and their support was much appreciated."

With 43-year-old Mills figuring in the overall honours list, first Master was Bermuda's 49-year-old Marathon Man Cal Steede who ran 3:29:00.

Former resident and ultra-marathon runner, Ronnie Wong (3:29:40), now based in the USA, lifted the 60-69 title ahead of local Anton Duzevic (3:45:27).

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