For a moment or two yesterday spectators might have thought they were in a time warp at the Marathon Derby - was it 2002 or had Bermuda gone back a year?

In almost a carbon copy, the first five finishers - except one - in this year's event were the exact same as last year and in the same positions. In addition, eight of this year's top ten were among that elite group last year.

However, there was one defining difference that erased any confusion about time. The weather gave away that a year had passed since Kavin Smith won an unprecedented seventh marathon title in pouring rain and under ominously dark clouds. Yesterday, the skies were splashed in sunshine as the Sandys resident stretched his winning streak to eight, completing the new 13.3 mile course in one hour, 13 minutes and 17 seconds.

Try as they did, Albert (Jay) Donawa and Tracy Wright had to settle for the same second and third places respectively that they occupied a year ago, crossing the finish in the National Sports Centre in 1:14.33 and 1:15.59 respectively.

The surprise package of the morning was enterprising triathlete Tyler Butterfield who, having claimed second in the Sinclair Packwood Memorial cycling race which began at 8.45 a.m., was whisked back to Cambridge Road, Somerset, by boat for the marathon.

The 19-year-old made the 9.35 a.m. start and steadily worked his way through the thick pack to be fourth in 1:18.32. Larry Marshall Jr., also 19, duplicated his fifth place of a year ago in 1:20.11.

Sylvester Jean-Pierre (1:21.34), Brett Forgesson (1:22.03), Sheldon Thompson (1:22.37), Lamont Marshall (1:23.20) and Ricky Sousa (1:23.37) rounded out the top ten. Jean-Pierre was also the first Master while Harry Patchett's 1:23.52 earned him top place among the Seniors. Former winner, Mike Watson, was the second Master in 1:25.16. Butterfield was the first junior.

Competition-wise, the race was essentially over by the time the real sweating began, with 35-year-old Smith predictably surging to the fore at the junction of Middle Road and Church Road, just 4.5 miles into the event.

It was a lead he would never relinquish as any question of who would win was quickly replaced by what time would Smith clock and how would those left in his trail fare?

His solo breakaway followed fleeting, if improbable, early bursts by Didier Chanteloup and then Wright, with Donawa and Sheldon Thompson in his shadow. At this juncture, hopes of a good tussle rose but the iron man of Bermuda's roads would have none of it.

Striding comfortably, Smith moved past Thompson into third place before overhauling Donawa as the front-runners came up to Southampton Glebe School. Systematically, like a woodcutter chopping away at a tree, Smith whittled down Wright's advantage until he surpassed his rival, showing Wright his heels as powered ahead. By this time, Chanteloup had faded out of contention.

Coming to the six-mile mark near Waterlot Inn, Smith had a 200-metre lead and, with crowds cheering from every possible vantage point, he continued on purposefully. He passed veteran Ludwig Cann, now in his mid-70s - who received a 45-minute headstart because of his age - by Riddell's Bay and set his sights on the scenic Harbour Road. Behind him, Donawa, 29, was moving into second, overtaking 38-year-old Wright just before Waterlot Inn, and Butterfield was challenging Thompson for fourth.

Through Crow Lane and into Hamilton, the winner-in-waiting looked like he was out for a Sunday afternoon stroll as rows of enthusiastic spectators greeted him, even passengers on the Nordic Empress - docked by Flagpole - gazed down as 434 runners out of more than 470 starters went on to complete the course.

It was only a matter of time before Smith reached his destination - the stadium on this occasion and not Bernard Park - and when he did, the reception he received was as if he was claiming the marathon crown for the first time and not simply stamping his authority as king of the roads.