Butterfield and Vallis/Minute Maid 5-K yesterday, as the Sandys resident continued his unparalleled success.

Almost a minute separated first place Smith from the next finisher, training partner Kevin Tucker, as Smith clocked 15 minutes, 18 seconds, clipping Mark Perry's one-year-old record by two seconds, while Tucker galloped home in 16:14.

Brett Forgesson wound up third in 16:16 as he lost a battle to overcome Tucker in a spirited sprint finish.

Starting from just outside of the Vallis warehouse on Woodlands Road, the race was virtually over midway the first mile, after Tracy Wright, who had been running shoulder-to-shoulder with Smith, succumbed to a leg injury.

Wright displayed tremendous courage to complete the race, if only managing an unaccustomed 78th position.

Thus left the recent ADT Bermuda Half Marathon champion to run it alone, his only obstacle being the treacherous footing on the road brought on by sporadic showers.

`I'm pretty pleased,'' said Smith, currently in preparation for the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada set for August.

"It's definitely a harder course, with the bit they added on. You have to turn around in the middle of the downhill going to Spanish Point, forcing you to come to a complete stop and then run back up.'' Among the women, Anna Eatherley was victorious, clocking 17:52, just ahead of second place Karen Adams (18:07), while Donna Watson was third in 18:38.*l