But his superb effort over the 26.2 mile distance still left him some nine minutes short of qualifying for this year's Sydney Olympic Games.

On what is considered a flat and fast course, Smith clocked two hours, 29 minutes and 45 seconds -- an average pace of 5:43 per mile -- to finish 26th overall in a field of more than 3,000. He placed 10th in his age group for runners between 30 and 34.

Overall victory went to Californian Rob Reeder whose time of 2:17.15 was the only sub 2:20 performance.

The Olympic qualifying time is 2:20 but Smith, who couldn't be contacted yesterday, is still likely to be happy with his finish, having sliced exactly eight minutes off his previous best time of 2:37.45 set in Bermuda in 1993.

He can now look forward to the Boston Marathon in April where he is expected to have another shot at the Olympic time.

Less than half a dozen Bermuda runners have ever dipped under the 2:30 barrier, the best being Ray Swan who set a national record of 2:26:37 at Boston in 1981.

Peter Lever ran 2:21 in Detroit in 1972, a few years before he arrived in Bermuda.

Kavin Smith: closing in on the Olympic qualifying time.