For the fourth time Albert (Jay) Donawa found himself without match in yesterday's Cornerstone Development Group-sponsored 10-mile out-and-back road race from the Botanical Gardens to Mid Ocean Golf Club.

Reigning May 24 Marathon Derby champion Dawn Richardson was a similarly emphatic winner among the women.

Despite clocking up 100 miles of training during the week, former world cross-country championship runner Donawa had enough left in his legs to break clear of the 100-plus field of runners early on and carve out a lead of more than two minutes by the time he glided past John Smith's Bay at around four miles.

At the half-way turnaround point he was able to gauge exactly how much of a gap he had over his nearest pursuer, Peter Mills.

"I was about 27 minutes at the turnaround and I looked at my watch and then saw the next runner coming past a minute-a-half later so I knew I had a gap of about three minutes and that if I maintained my pace they would have to run close to five-minute mile pace to catch up," said Donawa.

He was already looking smooth and comfortable at his 5:30 pace and in the absence of a credible threat was untroubled with a victory in 54 minutes, 58 seconds.

"It felt comfortable. It wasn't the fastest I've done on the course, I believe I ran 52:46 one year. But today my focus was simply on winning the race, which was all part and parcel of my training at the moment."

In the past few weeks he has been knocking out 100 miles a week, broken up into 12 sessions, requiring he runs twice on most days. His last double training session was on Friday and he took Saturday easy with a one-hour run in preparation for Sunday's event.

"My legs were fatigued for the race. There was a bit of wind on the way out but it was an assist on the return," said Donawa.

He sized up the field in the first mile and quickly concluded he was not likely to be pushed into the "red zone" by his rivals and settled into a strong but comfortable pace.

His only "rabbit" was Jon Brunson, who had set off half-an-hour earlier than the rest and managed to hang on to his advantage by a slender margin to technically cross the finish line first.

Donawa has previously won in 2000, 2004, and 2006. He was presented with the David Saul Trophy by former Premier Dr. Saul, who also participated in the race. Donawa expects his next race to be in California when he and his family visit his brother Michael in San Diego, before returning for the RMS 20K race.

Second home was Mills, who used the race as a tune-up for the Boston Marathon in two weeks' time.

Like Donawa he ran a lonely race after separating himself from the chasing pack going up McGall's Hill on the outward leg. He ran consistent 5:50 mile pace to smash his personal best for the distance, which previously stood at 59:40 but is now a satisfying 58:11.

That performance augers well for Mills' ambition to crack 2:45 in Boston.

He said: "The wind today was not a problem. The course is harder on the way back and the wind was more helpful on the return. After I left the others I could see that I was putting 10 seconds a mile onto them. At the halfway I was 29:11 and more than 400 metres clear of the others."

Mills is currently filling his days with multi-event training in preparation for a full Ironman triathlon in Idaho this June. That training involves a combined total of 20 hours workout per week, ten of which is cycling and the rest a split between running and swimming.

Third place went to former Commonwealth Games marathoner and May 24 champion Brett Forgesson in 60:33.

Among the women, Richardson looked untroubled as she ran a solo race to chalk up a clear victory. Despite preferring to run in company she was unable to find a group of runners in the race going at her pace.

She book-ended the race with a four-mile run before and after to make it an 18-mile workout.

Second was last year's winner, Alison Harvey, who confessed she preferred shorter races, but nevertheless ran 68.35 after running with training partner Rosa Peichoto to the eight miles point before pushing ahead.

She said: "It was a lovely day. It wasn't my fastest time but I enjoyed it more than I normally do. It is a great course."

The race was organised by Mid Atlantic Athletic Club.