local women, in the Sacramento Marathon in California yesterday.

Mewett ran a time of two hours, 51 minutes and 36 seconds in cold conditions and was 11th female overall. Maria Conroy Haydon was 13th overall in 2:55:08 while Anna Eatherley also finished in the top 20, running a time of 2:58:00.

Conroy Haydon and Eatherley became the seventh and eighth local women to break three hours for a marathon.

Last but certainly not least was Anna's husband Brett Forgesson who returned an astonishing personal best time of 2:26:57. His placing was unknown.

Forgesson's run made him the third fastest local marathoner ever behind Peter Lever (2:24) and Bermuda record-holder Ray Swan (2:26:35) and the sixth man to go under 2:30.

Floridian Jerry Lawson won in 2:10.27, the fastest time by an American in the event since 1989. Linda Somers was the first woman in 2:34.11.

SANDRA MEWETT.