fourteenth annual five-mile Labour Day race yesterday.

An enthusiastic crowd gave loud encouragement as Smith made a final sprint in front of BIU Headquarters to squeeze in at 25:32 -- three seconds under the record set by Tony Ryan in 1986.

And with the second place finisher coming in almost two minutes behind, Smith said his dominance was unchallenged throughout the course.

Cooler than average weather conditions may have helped the record-breaker, but Smith admitted he missed road racers Tracy Wright and Jay Donawa to "force better times''.

And now the 1998 race season is unofficially open, he said he was looking forward to upcoming challenges.

"I've been training defensively to be able to respond,'' he said yesterday.

"I'm hoping those guys are out there training hard.'' Brett Forgesson (27:22), David Dunwoody (27:34), and Sheldon Tankard (28:09) filled out the roster for top-place finishers in the 117 strong race yesterday.

And Anna Eatherley claimed first place women's honours in a time of 31:57 -- well above Maria Conroy Hayden's 1991 record of 29:36.

She was followed by Georgia Belboda (35:18), Rosemary Jones (35:36), and Julia Hawley (36:38).

STARTER'S ORDERS -- Kavin Smith (centre in the number two jersey) set a new record for the Labour Day run yesterday.