The look on Paul Freary's face said it all as he headed for the line and victory in last night's Front Street Mile.

With arms outstretched, eyes momentarily closed in sheer elation and a huge grin from ear to ear, the 26-year-old Englishman from Bolton, Lancashire finally won the race at the third attempt.

His winning time of 4:08.5 meant the $10,000 bonus for a sub-four minute mile remained safely in the Bank of Butterfield vaults but judging from his delight spraying the obligatory bottle of champagne, you'd have thought Freary had hit the jackpot.

"It's just brilliant,'' grinned Freary, when asked how it felt to finally win the race. "I can't sum it up. Ever since I first came here, I've loved it, the crowds are fantastic and I've always wanted to win this race.'' Two-time winner Michal Bartoszak, recovering from a bout of flu, had to settle for fifth place, although he did temporarily `win' a hat-trick of titles as a mix-up over bib numbers put him top of the official results printed out afterwards.

Former world record holder Steve Cram, the 1991 winner, was a surprise second, just forging ahead of American Tim Garliulo on the line. Both were clocked in 4:09.4. Australians Michael Dear and Andrew Letherby, Bermuda's Terrance Armstrong, Dutchman Simon Vroumen and American John Bowden rounded out the nine-man elite field.

Freary grabbed the lead in the last quarter after a sluggish first half and never looked back.

He said: "Everybody was playing it very cagey at the start. It was quite windy going up the middle straight and nobody wanted to move too soon. I think they were all waiting to the last 200 to kick but I stole the initiative on them and went early.

"I knew everybody was going to be kicking, so it was a question of whether I stole enough of a lead. I tried to relax once I got in front so I could kick again if I had to.'' As it turned out, he didn't need to, although veteran Steve Cram, at 35, found a surprising finish.

"Damn right it surprised me!'' quipped Cram afterwards. "I expected them to go out faster and thought if I was still there with 400 to go, I'll have done well. I just kept running -- there was no kick there.'' There was plenty of kick, however, in Jamal Hart, who blazed home in the local men's race to turn the tables on last year's winner Neil Halliday, and Jennifer Fisher who missed the local women's course record by a mere 0.2 seconds.

"I'm thrilled. I've waited a whole year for this,'' beamed 26-year-old Hart, after winning in 4:36.1, more than five seconds ahead of Halliday (4:41.9).

"I put in a surge just before the half but Neil caught me at the turnaround.

I just picked it up again after the half and took it from there. I was expecting Neil to be the biggest threat, especially with him having beaten me last year.'' Halliday, who was unsure about his race fitness after returning from vacation on Saturday, had no complaints.

"I felt strong but I didn't have enough speed and that's what kept me in until the last 400. Jamal and Tyler (Hall) took off after about 600 metres which was a bit earlier than I wanted to. They were making a lot of ground quickly so I had to put in a spurt but couldn't catch them until the Longtails. At about the Cenotaph, Jamal took off and I couldn't hold him. My legs were gone by then.'' Added the two-time winner: "I'd like to come back and win it next year when I'm 40, just to prove it can be done!'' Nineteen-year-old Quennel Robinson, a former runner-up at secondary school level, surged past Sharif Taylor and Hall to take third place in 4:47.3.

Jennifer Fisher comfortably held on to her local women's title, cruising home in 5:02.8, well ahead of two-time winner Karen Adams (5:16.6) but a fraction outside Adams' 1993 record of 5:02.6. Julia Hawley placed third in 5:28.7.

"I just kept going at my own pace,'' said Fisher. "I was 2:30 at the half and felt comfortable. I thought Karen would be coming up on my shoulder but she never came. The conditions were nice, it wasn't too windy.'' Adams, barely over a bout of flu, was happy enough with second place. "I didn't know what was going to happen. I had no choice but to go with Jennifer.

I wasn't too far off her at the half but then she got away a bit. But by then my hamstrings were getting tight and my lungs were starting to burn but she ran so well it would have been tough to beat her on a good day.'' Full results -- Page 14 PAUL FREARY -- triumphant at the third attempt.

JAMAL HART -- blazing victory in the local men's race.

JENNIFER FISHER -- comfortable winner.