The runaway Jay Donawa Express gathered more momentum at Astwood Park on Saturday when the 32-year-old distance runner clinched a fifth straight and eighth overall Bermuda Track and Field Association National Cross-Country Championship.

With several top runners absent from the field, Donawa entered the event as a clear favourite to retain his crown, having a week earlier easily won the BTFA's Fall Half-Marathon.

And the Somerset resident didn't disappoint as he cruised to victory in 42 minutes and 40 seconds, nearly three minutes ahead of second-placed finisher Lamont Marshall (45:31) and veteran Tracy Wright (48:49) who finished third.

Philippe Cosentino (49:44) placed fourth, a performance that earned him this year's overall BTFA Cross-Country Series title.

Surprisingly, no women's open or senior runners showed up for Saturday's championships.

After completing the challenging 7.5 mile course, Donawa said: “My intent was to try and go out and do the best that I could. I strategically set a race plan and executed it to perfection.”

Donawa charged out in front from outset, putting in a number of early surges which paid off as gradually he distanced himself from the rest of the pack.

The eventual winner, however, did encounter some stubborn resistance from Marshall who managed to keep pace over the first few laps.

“He (Marshall) is definitely a very promising distance runner,” said Donawa. “He hung in for a few laps before I made a few surges and opened a gap.”

But once Marshall had fallen off the pace, it all boiled down to a race against the clock.

“The course was very challenging,” added Donawa. “Even out there by yourself you still have to remain in the moment and I tried to run as fast as I could on the day.

“I felt a little flat from last week's half-marathon and my legs didn't respond as well as I would have liked. But nevertheless it went well and all in all I'm happy with the way it turned out.”

Asked if he would have preferred a stronger field, Donawa replied: “That would have been nice because I always welcome a challenge.

“It's all about trying to do the best you can and sometimes you need competition to bring the best out of you.”

Meanwhile, Ian Gilbertson (45:29) took honours in the men's 40 to 49 age group which was staged over a five-mile course while Harry Patchett claimed victory in the men's 50-plus division.

Edwina Arorash (34:15) won the women's 40 to 49 division.

In the male under-17 age category, contested over a 3.3 mile course, Aaron Evans (22:23) seized first place while Justin Burke (23:42) and Brian Morris (23:48 finished second and third respectively.

Deanne Lightbourn, competing alone in the female under 17 division, crossed the line in a time of 29:36.

Matthew Spring (15:42) captured the male under-14 age group while Ashley Berry seized the female under-14 title in a time of 18:57.

Trey Simons (10:17) led home the male under-12 age group while Kerri Furbert (11:55) was the female winner in the same age division.

The male under-10 division went to William White (12:05) while Rachel Fox pipped Esaiah Lister by a mere second to win the female under-10 age group in 13:27.