altar last night as he surged to victory in the Bank of Butterfield Elite Mile on Front Street.

While his time of four minutes, 5.1 seconds failed to eclipse the course record of 4:04.16 set by American Joe Falcon last year and did not come close to the required sub-four minute time needed to collect a $10,000 bonus, Bartoszak excited the crowd as he ran from the front, easily holding off a late challenge from another American, Greg Whitely (4:06.78).

Matt Kendall, while not able to take the resurgent Pole to task, ran well within himself to finish third in 4:08.7.

Once again the tricky crosswind that has become synonymous with this race proved decisive as the runners battled for supremacy against the elements.

"I think without the wind, maybe I might have done better and come closer to the record,'' said an elated Bartoszak after the race. "I'm very happy with my time.

"Last year I was second, this year first, maybe next year will be even better and I can get the record.'' Bartoszak set out as if shot out of a cannon. Such was his pace that by the quarter-mile mark he was running even with `race rabbit' Steve Burgess.

His split at that point was 59 seconds and at the half-mile mark he was still on record pace, going through in just under two minutes.

Whitely, Todd Lewis and Briton Paul Freary (4:12.9) attempted to close the gap on Bartoszak as the runners made the final turn at the Longtail statues.

Freary would soon fall off and eventually drift back to finish fifth and Lewis all the way to sixth, but Whitely continued with his challenge.

"It was a survival race,'' said Whitely, on the Island competing for the first time. "It was my first race of serious note and I'm not used to that kind of speed.

"At the half-mile mark he had 15 metres on me and I thought that if I was going to win I had to get up close and try to outkick him, but he just ran a solid race.'' Yes, there would be no denying the Pole as he crossed the line to thunderous applause from the thousands of spectators on hand for what has truly become an international spectacle.

This was emphasised by the presence of network sports giant ESPN, which will carry the event on a tape delay basis.

Although Bartoszak appeared fresh following his triumph he revealed that just a month prior he had been suffering from a chest infection and is not yet up to full strength.

He and Whitely concurred that breaking the four-minute mark was not beyond reason.

"It's absolutely possible,'' said Whitely. "It may take calmer wind, but it is an attainable goal and I hope to do it next year.'' Among the locals involved Mark Perry emerged tops ahead of Kavin Smith and Tracy Wright.

Perry turned in a 4:24.9 clocking to outpace Smith (4:27.4) by over two seconds with Wright bringing up the rear (4:43.7).

On a night of records -- there were five set -- the one most had hoped would fall stood firm. Race director Mike Charles took particular delight in commending the performance of the young runners as well as their older counterparts.

"It was really a good night for every one and it says a lot for our young athletes,'' said Charles, whose only real headache was keeping exuberant fans behind the barricades. "It shows they have been training and that they are disciplined.

"Our future looks really good especially among the young students. Looking at the next competition, which is the CARIFTA Games we've got a good nucleus of athletes coming up.'' Results round-up, Page 14.

TOP MAN -- Michael Bartoszak of Poland lived up to expectations by winning the Elite Mile but was five seconds outside a sub-four minute mile.