American Karl Paranya cruised through the pouring rain to become only the third runner to win back-to-back Front Street Mile titles last night.

Kenyan Sammy N'geno started the fastest and led for most of the race, but was caught in the last quarter mile by Paranya, who timed his move perfectly to win by half a second.

The fact that his time of 4:11.8 was nearly six seconds slower than his winning time last year was of no concern to Paranya, who adapted best to the appalling conditions.

The rain held off for the first six of the seven mile races last night, but ironically the heavens opened moments before the start of the showpiece elite race and turned Front Street into a stream.

And from that moment on, it was clear that the $20,000 bonus for the first runner in the race's 12-year history to break the four-minute mark would remain in the vaults of sponsors the Bank of Butterfield, along with the $3,000 on offer for anyone breaking Joe Falcon's 1992 record of 4:04.2.

Earlier in the evening, records did tumble, as Kor-von Tucker in the under-12 boys and Tiffany Eatherley in the under-18 girls set new marks.

And Kavin Smith, who will compete again in today's International 10K, defied the effects of flu to win the local men's race by nearly six seconds.

Paranya was thrilled with his victory, though disappointed that the weather had scotched hopes of a record-breaking night.

"The first half of the race was the worst and at times I couldn't see a thing,'' said the Pennsylvanian, who won in 4:06.0 last year, having finished fourth in the 1998 race.

"We got to the corner mark in about 60 (seconds) and I thought I was hardly going to be able to finish.

"Sammy (N'geno) was way out in front, but I felt in control. I was always happy with my position and felt I would catch him.'' Past the half-mile point, the Kenyan had opened up a lead of around 20 yards, but ran out of steam late in the race, while Paranya cruised into overdrive and passed him.

"It was a pity about the rain, because I really felt we could have gone for the record tonight,'' added Paranya.

"For me, this is one of the biggest races of the year and the crowd are always great and it's a great feeling to win it twice in a row.'' Only Poland's Michael Bartoszak (1993 and 1994) and Ireland's Marcus O'Sullivan (1996 and 1997) have won in successive years and Paranya made it clear he would be back to try and be the first to achieve a hat-trick of Front Street Mile triumphs.

"Whatever sort of shape I'm in, a trip to Bermuda's always too good to turn down, so I'll definitely be back,'' he added.

American Phil Price took third place, a stride behind N'geno in 4:12.7, while another Kenyan Ben Kapsoiya took fourth in 4:16.7.

The only Bermudian invited to compete, Washington-based 1,500 metres specialist Terrance Armstrong came in fifth in 4:20.4.

The local men's race looked set for a thrilling finish when Kavin Smith and Michael Donawa were neck-and-neck as they passed Parliament Street.

But just after that point, Donawa pulled out with what appeared to be a hamstring strain, leaving Smith to cruise home unchallenged in 4:35.5.

Smith said he was "ecstatic'' to win the event for the first time, although he sympathised with Donawa's plight.

"I was really looking forward to a sprint finish,'' said Smith. "When I surged near the customs house, he surged back and then I was able to counter his surge. It was disappointing he had to pull out.'' Sheldon Thompson came in second, in 4:41.4, while Donald Bowman took third in 4:45.1.

In the women's event, Ashley Couper was an even more comprehensive winner than Smith in the men's.

Anna Eatherley, the Island's top long-distance road runner, stayed with Couper up until the the half-mile mark, but by the time Couper passed Court Street, she had opened up a lead of around 15 yards.

The University of Vermont student continued to pull away and crossed the finishing line in 5:11.2, 12 seconds ahead of Eatherley, with Victoria Fiddick just pipping Georgia Belboda to the third podium place.

Couper said: "It's awesome to be able to run in front of a home crowd like this.

"I had some time off in December, but I've been training medium to hard for the last couple of weeks with my excellent coach Robert Hoppler.

"I'm delighted with the shape I'm in -- I didn't really expect to be running this well until about Paranya reigns on Front Street June.'' In the under-18 boys race, Richard Walcott made a well-timed move to burst past Larry Marshall on the home straight and claim victory in 4:37.9, nearly five seconds clear of Marshall and seven seconds ahead of third-placed Jeremiah Smith.

The victorious Berkeley Institute student admitted his run had not gone entirley according to plan. "I did not mean him (Marshall) to get that far ahead of me, but I caught him in the end,'' said Walcott.

Tiffany Eatherley smashed her own record in winning the under-18 girls race, winning in 5:45.0, 1.6 seconds better than her winning time last year.

Flora Duffy came second in 5:48.3, three seconds clear of third-placed Shar-dae Whitter.

"I felt very relaxed tonight and I just went out there and ran,'' said Eatherley. "I wanted to make my mother very proud.'' In the under-12 boys, the first two finishers produced record-breaki ng runs.

Winner Kor-von Tucker set a new best time for the age category of 5:37.7, while second-placed Cody Lima, one second behind, also broke Terence Dill's 1998 record of 5:39.9. Carlo Paynter came in third.

The closest finish of the night came in the under-12 girls race, with Saltus student Ashley Brooks pipping Latroya Darrell by three tenths of a second, while Kassie Bather claimed third.

Brooks said she had been well aware that Darrell was closing in on her close to the tape. "I saw a big shadow coming over me,'' said Brooks.

State of the start: Karl Paranya (fourth from the right) sets off on a rain-soaked Front Street on his way to a second successive win in the elite