Puerto Rican pocket rocket David Freeman reigned supreme in the KPMG Invitational Front Street Mile on the same night his compatriots once again swept aside Bermuda's football team.

Cheered on by thousands of spectators who braved the windy weather, Freeman nudged ahead of Jon Rankin and defending champion Neil Speaight to win the mile in a thrilling sprint finish.

Although the magical four-minute mile barrier - and the $10,000 bonus on offer - was never threatened, Freeman's time of 4.08.9 was mightily impressive considering the conditions.

Like a silent assassin the diminutive runner purposefully hung at the rear of the small seven-man pack for much of the mile, biding his time before exploding when the finishing line came within his sights.

"My strategy was to stay at the back and let the other guys do the work," said Freeman who finished third last year. "I kicked into overdrive when I saw the finishing line and it worked out for me.

"When you see the line you seem to get an extra boost of energy, it was a close race. I read in the newspaper that the Puerto Rican football team were on the Island so it's been a good week for us, I guess."

In the night's other races local record holder Lamont Marshall issued a statement having not been granted a place in the elite section by blitzing his way to victory in the local men's race, while Ashley Estwanik shattered her own record in the women's version.

Bermuda's top middle-distance runner Marshall posted a time of 4.31.1, annihilating the rest of the field with second-placed Craig Rothwell finishing 24 seconds behind him.

For Marshall his third straight win was "bitter-sweet" and he could not disguise his annoyance at the Bermuda Track and Field Association for not allowing him to test himself against the elite athletes.

"I'm definitely disappointed," said a clearly irate Marshall. "It's disgusting I wasn't allowed to compete in the elite class. I've proved myself over the years and would have loved to test myself against the world-class runners.

"Track is very much dead in Bermuda and this is the only really competitive race on the Island and so it's frustrating that I was held back again.

"Even if they had beat me by a big margin I would look to close it the next year, and the year after that."

The only locals competing in the elite class were Michael Donawa, who set the tempo as the race "rabbit", and former US Olympic triallist Chris Estwanik who finished fifth with a time of 4.09.8, after watching his 'other half' Ashley Estwanik's stellar showing.

The couple won their respective races in the Fairmont to Fairmont races earlier this month.

It proved to be a one-woman race for Estwanik who dominated from start to finish and broke her previous record by two seconds with a time of 4.55.4.

"I'm delighted with my time because it was pretty windy, especially coming back through Front Street," she said.

"It's a different race when you're out in front by yourself, but the crowd were awesome and there was a great atmosphere. They carried me on."

Veteran Cal Steede showcased his durability by winning the inaugural Triangle Challenge mile with a time of 5.34.8, before taking a brief breather ahead of the men's race.

Incredibly, the 48-year-old posted a finish less than two seconds slower.