performance was nothing to sneeze at yesterday as he finished first overall in the men's division of the national duathlon championships.

Jennifer Fisher overcame a problem with her left foot, but even on one strong foot she was a perfect team-mate for Maggie Hateley as they won the women's team event.

And Greg Hopkins was suffering from a sore back, but still managed to be one-half of the most potent combination of yesterday's men's team duathlon.

Also, everyone was forced to put up with organisational problems with full results of yesterday's event not expected to be available until later today.

Kavin Smith, Hopkins' team-mate and winner of the recent May 24 Marathon Derby, had no aches and pains and proved once again that he is Bermuda's tower of power, running alone during the two 5K races and helping the pair steal the spotlight on a wet and windy morning at the US Naval Air Station in St.

David's.

Smith, Bermuda's best road runner, and Hopkins, among the Island's strongest cyclists, doubled up yesterday to produce one of the most devasting performances in duathlon history -- winning on a new course in a scintillating time of one hour, 12 minutes and 33 seconds.

Second in the men's team event was Steve Donnelly and Chris Walker (1:17.41) followed by Simon Groves and Richard Mason (1:19.29).

Winners of the women's team division were Fisher and Hateley in 1:27.46.

De ste Croix captured the men's division in 1:18.46, ahead of Dyrone Minors (1:23.28) and Rory Gorman (1:24.47). He was also a winner two years ago and last year captured the team event with James Cooper.

Melanie Claude -- looking as sharp on the road as she did in her purple outfit -- set a blistering pace in the women's division to win her first duathlon title, clocking 1:31.37. Second was Jane Christie in 1:37.35 while Claire de ste Croix was third in 1:38.39.

Describing his training last week as low key, Hopkins overcame back woes, showing that his first place finish in last month's Grand Prix was no fluke.

"I just think it's sore from all the strains, from all the racing this year,'' he said, looking as menacing with his silver-rimmed sunglasses as the dark sky.

It was the dynamic duo -- Hopkins and Smith -- that everyone kept their eyes firmly rivetted on right from the start.

The only thing that seemed to crawl at a snail's pace was the start of the event, delayed by more than 20 minutes while competitors were given a complicated run-down on the new course route for the 5K run followed by a 30K cycle and finishing with another 5K run. After the explanation a runner cried out "where do we start?'' which solicited a few nervous laughs from a group clearly anxious to get things going.

The event was complicated even further when athletes and media had difficulty obtaining results.

What was easier to figure out once everything was finished is that the kind of competition Smith needs -- and craves for -- cannot be found in Bermuda.

"I think I've proven that Bermuda is my limit,'' said Smith, finding shelter from a downpour in a nearby garage, which was alternating as an office for duathlon organisers. "I'm right here between here and America and in the middle of the sea treading water. I'm either going to go there or I'm just going to stay here and be mediocre.'' Smith was anything but mediocre yesterday, and the team triumph was all but a foregone conclusion when it was announced last week that his team-mate would be Hopkins.

Hopkins was not paired with Brett Forgesson, his usual partner, who competed yesterday but looked as if he hadn't completely recovered from an illness he suffered shortly after the Marathon Derby.

For Hopkins the victory was just one more lofty goal he has established for himself since returning full-time after sitting out 1994.

"I wouldn't say I like the pain, but I like the challenge of the pain and not giving in to it,'' said Hopkins. "People always tell me why don't I do this for fun, well I have a lot of fun. But I like to have goals.

"The Grand Prix with the Americans here and all the top local riders...for me to win that, that's probably one of the highlights of my athletic career. If I don't do anything else for the rest of the season then I'm satisfied with that.'' De ste Croix turned on the power during his second 5K run, gaining in confidence after an exemplary showing on the bike. His victory made up for last year when he was forced to compete in the team event only because of an injury.

"I didn't feel as sharp today as I wanted, I felt a little bit sluggish after that first run,'' said de ste Croix, who discarded his sunglasses at one point because of the heavy rain.

"I didn't feel as if I had any zip in me, but I settled down after the bike ride.'' Claude, who has been in top form throughout the year in cycle races, was able to dig deep during the the second 5K run to win her first-ever duathlon title.

"I felt good on my bike and my husband was sort of coaching me along the way and he had indicated that I had a six-minute lead, so I said to myself `well, okay, just do a steady (second) run and (try) not to kill myself'.'' Fisher -- who said she felt like a "sack of potatoes'' after the first 5K -- saluted Hateley, her team-mate, who will soon be leaving Bermuda. "She cycled very well and I was pleased to be running with her,'' said Fisher. "We're pals, I know her and her husband and when she called me up and asked me to run with her I then told her about my foot but she just said we'd do our best.'' REPEAT WINNER -- Neil de ste Croix won his second duathlon title yesterday, taking command of a new course and fighting off problems with allergies.

FIRST TIME WINNER -- Melanie Claude's prowess on the bike has been well documented this year, but she also put together good runs to win the women's division.