participants in yesterday's Orange Classic 10K in Middletown, New York.

The May 24 Marathon Derby champion, competing in his first overseas race since the 1992 CAC Games in Puerto Rico, completed the hilly course in a time of 32.07. The winning time was not known last night.

Smith is launching what he hopes will be a series of races abroad in his build-up to next year's Olympic Games in Atlanta.

"I'm disappointed, but I shouldn't be as I was 16th out of a couple of thousand,'' said Smith last night from New York. He had hoped to be closer to the 30-minute mark while a top 10 finish would have put him among the prize money. The course record is 30:32.

"I should have been 10th but I got caught up in being too conservative. I was holding off too long. My beginning was good but I conserved too much in the centre. I think I back off too much.'' Smith described the conditions as pleasant -- overcast and cool -- but the course was challenging. "Very hilly, up and down the whole way,'' he explained.

"Considering the course I can't put too much pressure on myself. But looking at how I was reeling guys in at the end I could have got in the top 10.'' Smith's next overseas race will be the Peachtree 10K in Atlanta on July 4.

"I've got a couple of minutes to knock off,'' he added.

"For this one I just wanted to get started in higher competition. It was a quality field so I can't knock it.''