Larry Marshall’s decisive break that propelled him to a maiden Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby title on Thursday might have caught many by surprise — but not younger brother Lamont.

Twenty-two year-old Lamont, two years younger than Larry, insisted yesterday that his brother’s gutsy move had been planned all along — a plan that worked to perfection as the eventual champion broke away from a lead pack of four runners in the latter stages of the race while Lamont held his end of the bargain by providing the perfect foil.

“We talked about the strategy and basically came up with different scenarios. But the plan was that if we were all bunched up on Harbour Road then one of us would have to make a break. Once one of us made a break for it the other would run off of Terrance (Armstrong) and Jay (Donawa) just in case the one out front faded,” explained Lamont, who finished third for the second straight year.

“It was a good move and I think Jay and Terrance might have been looking at me as opposed to him. So once he got out he gradually distanced himself from us and was able to maintain the lead. But our main objective was for one of us to win basically.”

Newly-crowned champion Larry entered the race somewhat unproven having recently shrugged off injury. However, Lamont said yesterday that he never doubted his brother’s ability.

“I knew that he was fit although he hasn’t been racing much (this year) because of injury. I knew that he was fit obviously from training and talking to him, and that he also had the capability,” he added.

The Marshall’s success earlier this week did not arrive overnight but instead was the culmination of years of sacrifice and commitment, according to proud mom Rhonda who along with husband Larry sr played an integral part in their son’s development.

“I used to take them both out running with me every morning for about three miles when they were about eight or nine years old, while my husband has coached them over the years and brought them along gradually,” she said.

Son Lamont vividly remembers those early days in his career.

“My dad is the coach but we actually started off training with my mother who still runs to this day just for fitness and health. We all used to run up and down Vesey Street and when we got a bit older we started training at the Arboretum with my father who was already very knowledgeable in the sport,” he said.

The Marshall brothers received tremendous support from family members after the race at Bernard Park, among them ecstatic mom Rhonda.

“It was the greatest feeling and I was so excited and delighted with both of their performances today. I felt ecstatic and words cannot really describe how I felt because those boys trained very hard and I’m really happy things came through for them,” she said.

“I think it was more pressure on me and my husband, but thank God.”