Lamont Marshall emerged from under the shadows of perennial rivals Kavin Smith and Jay Donawa on the streets of Hamilton yesterday to claim a maiden Labour Day crown in convincing fashion.

And in achieving victory, the Bermuda College student might have given race fans a glimpse of things to come in the near future with a dominant display that swept him to victory under dark, overcast skies.

Marshall broke the tape in a winning time of 26 minutes and 41 seconds ? some two minutes and 23 seconds ahead of nearest rival and race record holder Kavin Smith.

Smith (29.04) crossed the finish line in second showing little effects from yesterday?s ?deceptively? humid conditions, while track star Michael Donawa (29.19) came in a close third.

England?s Dawn Richardson (tenth overall, pictured right) won the women?s title in a time of 32 minutes and 30 seconds, while Alison Harvey (33.20) finished second and Rosa Peichoto (34.41) third.

Marshall finished one minute and 23 seconds outside of Smith?s official race record, set in 2003.

Yet according to the newly-crowned champion, race records were never a priority yesterday.

?It?s a little bit too early in the season to be focusing on records, and I was mainly concerned with the victory as opposed to time,? a victorious Marshall told afterwards.

Marshall laid down the gauntlet early in the race and made his decisive move as the field neared Mill?s Creek.

?I took a glance over my shoulder but surprisingly nobody went with me. So at that particular stage I figured I was on my own,? he said.

And from that point on, the 23-year-old runner had only his shadow to contend with as the race itself as a contest was all but over.

?I had about a 20 to 30 metre lead and basically I just tried to maintain a decent pace and not get too relaxed,? added Marshall, who also overcame the heat factor en route to victory.

?The weather was a little deceptive. . . . it looked cool but was still humid,? he admitted.

However, unlike Marshall, women?s champion Dawn Richardson was shadowed for long periods of the race.

?Alison (Harvey) was right behind me and she pushed me on more than I wanted to be pushed, really. It was far harder than what I thought it would be and I?m not as fast as what I thought I would be,? the current women?s May 24th champion said.

?I?ve done no speed training over the summer and it was just really humid and a lot harder than I thought it would be.?

Still recovering from a back injury, Smith ran within himself to claim runner?s up spoils.

?I didn?t want to press it today for obvious reasons,? he said. ?My mind is pretty strong and I?m climbing the ladder, and so I have to be smart.

?So I just took things easy and fortunately my years of experience and fitness allowed me to run as easy as I was able to.?

Donawa, standing in for brother Jay who could not compete yesterday due to work commitments, used yesterday?s traditional season opener as practise for upcoming events.

?This is a race that I love and always come out to support, and it was just fun. There was no pressure and so basically this was a training day for me,? he said.

?I didn?t have any expectations and ran in my training flats with a long sleeve top. And so it was definitely for kicks today.?

Meanwhile, Peter Mills (29.23) won the Male Masters category, Mark Albouy (31.22) captured the Seniors Division and Kyle Godfrey the juniors.