Lamont Marshall made history yesterday, running the fastest 5K on the Island — a stunning 14 minutes and 53 seconds for the 3.1 mile distance.

His performance was five seconds better than Kavin Smith’s long-standing mark for the distance.

Shortly after defending his title in the annual ‘Sir’ Stanley Burgess road race, Marshall paid tribute to his older brother, Larry, who finished second, for providing an ever-present challenge that drove him to the new record.

Larry’s time of 15:12 proved he’s no slouch either, but his brother’s perfect race placed him almost half-a-lap of the Devonshire Recreational Club field ahead at the finish.

The younger Marshall went into the race believing he could erase Smith’s time from the record books. Last year he had gone close during a duel with Jay Donawa, but he bettered that performance by 10 seconds yesterday.

“My brother pushed me the whole way. We ran the first mile in 4:38 and went through two miles in 9:24. I knew I had a chance to break the record,” he said.

The brothers ran side-by-side during the early stages with third-placed Otis Robinson company in the first mile.

Marshall said: “It was a hard run. I know my brother has the speed and the intention and he was there all the way. I just got away in the final mile.”

In the final 200 metres Marshall dug deep, pushing himself to the limit as he saw the magic record figures ticking away on the finish line clock.

He prepared for his record run with a track session last weekend before cutting back on his mileage during the week to ensure he had fresh legs. After breaking the record, he said: “It’s an accomplishment and it is great for the sport. I’ve always looked up to those other guys (like Smith).”

Marshall’s focus now is the May 24 Marathon Derby — the Island’s most prestigious running event. He was second last year behind three-times winner Terrance Armstrong.

“I’m tapering my training, cutting back slightly, and ensuring I have a proper diet and rest. I’m looking forward to May 24.

“Armstrong has said he is looking for a ‘four-peat’ and there will be me, Jay and my brother.”

In yesterday’s women’s race, reigning May 24 champion Dawn Richardson was a repeat winner in 18:43, just over a minute ahead of early leader Rosa Peichoto.

Richardson ran13 miles in training two days previous and cycled the day before.

She said: “I pushed it all the way. It was hard.”

She has added weight training and kick-boxing workouts to her schedule. Asked if she was confident of defending her May 24 crown, which she won last year after passing Karen Bordage in the last mile, she replied: “I’m going to turn up for May 24. I think I got lucky last year.”

Swan’s Running Club president Otis Robinson tasted his own moment of glory, finishing third in a lifetime best of 16:54.

He was pulled along in the wake of the Marshall brothers in the first mile, recording a 4:57 split, which launched him on his way to his first sub-17 minute finish.

Yesterday’s race commemorated Bermudian running legend ‘Sir’ Stanley Burgess, a who competed in more than 50 May 24 Marathon Derbies, including five victories (and six in the 1926-1943 breakaway ‘Marathon Group’ event), before he died in 1984.

‘Sir’ Stanley’s trademark was a white handkerchief on his head when he raced. Many runners in yesterday’s race wore handkerchief’s in tribute to the late “Iron Horse champion.”

Competitor Mike Whalley knew ‘Sir’ Stanley personally and said: “He was a wiry fellow, so flexible. He used to push a wheelbarrow up the Flatts hill for training, he was a tough, little cookie. He was a great believer in honey and natural food mixes. He had these ideas about what to eat that in many ways showed he was ahead of time.”

The Community and Cultural Affairs Ministry provided sponsorship for the race. Minister Wayne Perinchief, who watched the race, said former Sports and Community Minister Dale Butler had done much to promote the event and its cultural significance.

He said this year’s event had added poignancy after the recent death of Berwyn Cann, a founding member of the Bermuda Track and Field Association and a long-time key organiser of the May 24 Marathon Derby.

Perinchief added that what he liked about road running events was that they were “very good at pulling people together.”

He said: “There are a lot of ex-pats who come along and take part, especially May 24, and go to places and areas that they might not normally.”

In the junior races Juma Mouchette finished ahead of Dage Minors in the 11-12 age group. Juma, who has run 4:57 for 1500 metres and 2.25 for 800 metres, was around 20 metres clear in a repeat of the duel the pair had in last weekend’s Round the Town race.

His success comes in part from two months training around the Arboretum grounds under the guidance of his father Wayne.