Lamont Marshall and Dawn Richardson got their road running season off to a winning start by taking the men's and women's titles in Swan's Running Club's annual Labour Day Five Mile Race yesterday.

In oppressively hot conditions, Marshall took charge from the gun in a repeat of his 2007 victory, and remained ahead of the field throughout as he cruised to a time of 27 minutes and seven seconds. He was exactly three minutes clear of the next finisher, Kavin Smith, who had given himself the additional handicap of having to make up ground on the rest of the runners after missing the start gun by around 30 seconds.

In the women's race, it initially appeared as though Victoria Fiddick would secure the top place on the podium in the season opener, but she faltered with a mile to go and conceded victory to her training partner and two-time former May 24 champion Richardson.

After his impressive overall victory in the race, which started and finished on Dutton Avenue next to Bernard Park, Marshall said: "It was hot and humid. I went to the front and remained there. It was good to get the first race under my belt."

Marshall intends to take part in the Fifth Avenue Mile Race in New York in three weeks' time, as he did last year, and sees himself continuing to concentrate on the 800 metres and mile as his specialist distances for the time being, although his next on-Island race is likely to be one of the cross country series events.

May 24 king Smith appeared relaxed as he came home second in 30.07, having made up ground after missing the start. However, he found himself in the company of 15-year-old Emanuel Smith-Joynes for much of the race as the teenager, who was third in 30.27, pushed for an impressive finishing time.

Smith-Joynes, who also finished fifth in the RMS 10K in April, said: "I was running close to Kavin. I've been running my miles in the heat. I felt good, but in the last mile I had no energy."

For Smith-Joynes it was a step up in distance from his speciality, which is the 3,000 metres. His strong showing in the race underlines the growing depth of running talent emerging on the Island, something that race winner Marshall is aware of.

"We've got Chris (Estwanik), my brother (Larry Marshall jr) is back in shape, there's Jay (Donawa) and Terrance (Armstrong) and then the college kids like Chayce Smith. It is really healthy," said Marshall.

Women's race winner Richardson had gone out expecting to play second fiddle to Fiddick, but the outcome turned on a decision late in the race when Richardson seized an opportunity at the drink station at four miles to nudge ahead of her friend and rival and held on to win in 31.58 against Fiddick's 32.41.

Richardson said: "Victoria was in front for four miles and I settled for second but I started to get closer to her on the hills. Then, at four miles, there was a water station and a hill, Victoria stopped for a drink and I pushed on – although I crashed and burned about half a mile later."

The training partners are both preparing for October's Toronto Marathon, and Richardson knocked out a two-hour training session less than 48 hours before yesterday's road race.

Third woman to finish was Sharlene Sousa in 36.08.