Most runners were less than happy with the early morning rain that fell for 20 minutes before the beginning of the RenaissanceRe 5/10 Mile Challenge road races, but Jay Donawa was not one of them.

On the contrary, the eventual ten-mile race winner was hoping the showers would continue during the race as he enjoys running in the rain.

However, the precipitation that had ensured all competitors started in a sodden state, relented just as the athletes streamed away from the start line on South Road, near the Botanical Gardens’ entrance gate.

In the high humidity, that was estimated to be above 95 per cent, Donawa quickly gained a commanding position as he broke clear to chase his fifth title in the long-established road race. It was nine years since he had last won the event, but the 43-year-old still has the air of a champion about him and yesterday he dominated the field of 80 finishers to win in 58min 42sec.

Women’s ten-mile race winner Rose-Anna Hoey was also in sparkling form as she finished fifth overall in 1:09:16.

Late last year men’s winner Donawa suffered from gallstones, but he has since had surgery to remove them. Yesterday he was untroubled as he cruised along at a steady clip of 5:52 per mile.

“When the rain stopped it brought out the humidity and that was tough,” said the former World Cross Country Championship athlete.

At the halfway turnaround point, just before Tucker’s Town, he was able to gauge how much of a lead he had on second-placed athlete Ryan Wilson.

“It was about 2½ minutes so I knew then I just had to continue on my pace. Coming back the humidity was tough, although the ninth mile was my fastest,” said Donawa, who lifted the David Saul Trophy, which was presented by the former premier.

Following Donawa across the finish line was Wilson in 1:03:34, with Omari Hart third in 1:06:35.

Women’s winner Hoey has had a busy few weeks of racing. Last weekend she was only 13 seconds outside her lifetime best when she ran 1:25:51 in the United Airlines New York City Half-Marathon.

In yesterday’s race she had to deal with some cramping in her legs, and even stopped briefly two miles from the finish as she felt the effects of the high humidity.

She was pleased with her run, but will now curtail her road racing.

“I’m hanging up my running shoes for a while, and I will not do May 24,” she said, citing injuries she suffered last year, and a general feeling that she needs to rest and give her body a break.

Hoey said her long-term goal now is next year’s Boston Marathon.

Second woman in the ten-mile race was Vivienne Lochhead, sixth overall, in 1:12:09, followed by Becky Vernon in 1:17:12.

In the five-mile race, Stephen Allen was the clear winner in 28:41, from Ronae Burgess in 32:28 and Jahmai Lottimore in 33:25.

Women’s winner Gayle Lindsay was fourth overall in 33:25. It was her second victory in three days, having also taken the women’s title in the PHC one mile road race, in Warwick, on Friday.

Second woman in yesterday’s five-mile race was Anna Laura Hocking in 37:19, followed by Stepanka Sprincova in 37:30.

In the five-mile walk, Sinclair Smith was the winner in 58:28, from first woman Rebecca Perry in 58:29, and Gary Young in 59:31. Second woman to finish was Sheena Young in 1:01:17, followed by Gilda Cann in 1:01:29.

Third man was Godfrey Nichols in 1:07:31.