have read "...and the winner by TKO is Robert Yara''.

Indeed, the revamped course presented for the 1993 event proved most challenging and as it turned out was more than 1992 winner Sergei Krestyaninov or American Scott Bagley could bear.

Both were forced out, making the path clear for Yara -- then about to celebrate his 38th birthday -- to record his second triumph, being timed in two hours, 31 minutes, 43 seconds for the 26.2 mile distance.

Krestyaninov, the man who beat the then defending champion Yara by three minutes in 1992, called it quits at the halfway stage heavily favouring his left foot.

Meanwhile, Bagley sped by Yara in an ambulance near Government Gate three miles from the finish and the latter knew he had the race in the bag.

However, before then it was a totally different story as Yara had all but resigned himself to second after losing the lead to Bagley at the water stop near Ariel Sands and even went back to grab a cup of water after missing on the first attempt.

"He (Bagley) grabbed about 30 yards on me and I decided to try to catch him little by little, but I didn't,'' Yara explained afterwards.

"At about 19 or 20 (miles) I really felt like crap, so I settled for second there. I walked for about 80 yards and I didn't know he had stopped.

"When I caught him I said, `Oh' and then I looked back and he didn't take off, so I knew he was hurting.'' Bagley later admitted that his "legs were just shot'' and that he had maybe run too hard in the early going.

A surprising second to Yara was Bermuda's own Kavin Smith (2:37:45), taking part in his first full marathon and third event of the weekend, while Walter Faion (2:42:21) of Canada waltzed in third.

While the field generally lacked major talent, Kim Goff, nevertheless, raised a few eyebrows in placing sixth overall, clocking 2:54:55, two places and over a minute ahead of English-born Gillian Horovitz.

But for the first 10 miles Goff was a non-entity as Horovitz and local road running queen Sandra Mewett put down the hammer.

Goff came into the picture at the 10 mile stage and she and Horovitz ran together for the next five, before the former pulled away for good.

"My first half was around 1:26, so I was happy with my second half which was equally as fast,'' said Goff later. "I had no idea what time I was going to run, I knew not to expect a wonderful time because of the high humidity and hills. My time wasn't as much of a goal as to place.'' Even the sturdy Mewett succumbed to the stifling humidity, winding up third in 3:08:48.

ROBERT YARA -- Recorded his second triumph in the marathon.