a record-setting prelude to the Elite Mile as five new marks were attained.

Donawa not only obliterated the Secondary School Boys record but he also went inside the mark of 4:35 for the Adult Male race, which had been jointly held by Jeremy Ball (1989) and Neil Halliday (1992). Canadian-born resident Tyler Hall later lowered the adult record but was still slower than Donawa.

The 14-year-old saw his Primary boys record of 5:24, set in 1990, broken by 11-year-old Spencer Butterfield in 5:15:7 in the second race of the night before Donawa got a new record of his own with a lightning-fast time of 4:29:7, which shattered Laurie Joseph's record of 4:47 set in 1991.

"I felt very comfortable,'' an excited Donawa said afterwards. "I felt I could have run 4:47 but I wasn't sure about the men's record.

"When somebody told me that someone had broken my primary school record it psyched me up. I'm training now to get ready for CARIFTA Games which is in late March in Martinique.'' The Secondary boys race was dominated by Berkeley students who occupied the top seven spots, with last year's winner Sharif Taylor placing second a distant 25 seconds behind in 4:55:2 and Quenell Robinson third in 4:57.1.

Donawa was second last year with Robinson third.

"There's always a rivalry in school but once I get in a race I don't know them anymore,'' said Donawa, who planned to share the news last night with big brother Jay who is in college abroad.

"I'll most definitely call him tonight. I hope I can follow in his footsteps but at the same time create footsteps for someone else to follow in.'' The night began with 11-year-old Suella Matthews of Gilbert breaking the Primary girls record as she raced home in 5:58.2 to beat Velvet Smith of Victor Scott by two seconds in an exciting finish. The previous record of 6:03 was set by Georgina Liburd in 1991.

"I was fifth last year and ever since last year my daddy (Edward Matthews) and I have been working up to this,'' explained the youngster. "I was trying to get out of the pack but Velvet Smith gave me a challenge at the end.'' Third amongst the Primary girls was Heidi Madeiros of Paget Primary in 6:06.

Spencer Butterfield, son of Jim and Debbie Butterfield, sent Donawa's Primary boys record crashing as he ran a smart race to pip Khano Smith of Gilbert Institute to the finish. Smith set the early pace but Butterfield passed him with about 50 yards to go to make up for last year's third-place finish.

"In training I did 5:25 so I kind of thought I wanted to do that again,'' said young Butterfield who knocked almost 10 seconds off the record.

Warwick Academy's Tamika Williams won the Secondary girls race in 6:06.6, four seconds ahead of Alexandra Watlington of Bermuda High but nine seconds outside Susan Richards' record of 5:57 set in 1991. Jarita Dill of Bermuda High completed the top three.

Records also fell in the Adult male and female categories where Canadian-born resident Tyler Hall paced himself to victory in the men with a time of 4:33:2, which was just a second faster than the previous record.

Hall, who only arrived in Bermuda last October from Southern Ontario, was five seconds faster than second-placed Gearoid Shanley in 4:38.2. Ball was third in 4:40.4.

"I was going for the record and I was happy to get it,'' said 25-year-old Hall. "Mark Perry, Kavin Smith and Tracy Wright were put in the Elite Mile and that was the main incentive for me to try to break 4:35. After hearing some of the other times, like the women's, some of us in the shed looked at each other because that put pressure on all of us.'' Karen Adams knocked nine seconds off her 1992 record time of 5:11 when, against tougher competition, she raced around the course in 5:02.6 to beat out Jennifer Fisher (5:07.7) and Anna Eatherley (5:16.5). Lynn Kynoch (5:26.7) and Jane Christie (5:30.5) completed the top five.

"My legs were tired at the end,'' admitted Adams who will drag herself out of bed early this morning to tackle the 10-K. "The conditions were very good but I honestly didn't know how fast I was going to run on the night.

"I thought I was capable of doing 5:05 if pushed and I knew Jennifer and Anna would push me all the way. I didn't expect a nine-second difference. Last year neither Jennifer nor Anna were there.'' The Celebrity race, just over a half-mile distance, was won by Rod Ferguson in 3:21.1 as he pipped Ian Davis in 3:21.7. Barry Brewer was third in 3:30.1.

PACE-SETTERS -- The top three women finishers, left to right, Jennifer Fisher, Anna Eatherley and Karen Adams battle for early supremacy at the quarter-mile mark. Adams broke her own record.

ANOTHER RECORD -- Michael Donawa of Berkeley lost one record and set another when he pulled out all the stops to win the Secondary boys event in a time of 4:29.7.