Lamont Marshall is the Island's new National Cross-Country Champion after a storming run to beat eight-time champ Jay Donawa over a testing course of around five miles around the Botanical Gardens on Saturday.

At one point Marshall momentarily lost his bearings on the twisting route, but regained his sense of direction quickly to maintain his lead as he covered five loops of the Gardens to lift the top trophy at the Bermuda Track and Field Association Championships the first time he has won the Open men's title.

Reigning champion Donawa, who has won the title eight times since 2000, put in a strong performance to finish in 26 minutes 54 seconds, some 51 seconds adrift of Marshall. Third place went to Evan Naude.

In the Open women's race it was Joanna Shillington who came out top, improving on her third place last year and capitalising on her strong off-road form which has seen her dominate the cross-country race series this year. Second in the open race was Tamika Williams.

However, fastest woman of the day was Victoria Fiddick, who retained the Masters' category trophy after covering around three miles in 18.20. The men's Masters' trophy went to former national champion Tracy Wright, who ran four laps in 24.50. In the senior Masters' division Lee Harrison dominated for the men in a time of 28.52, while Florence Sharpe-Trott secured victory by a minute-and-a-half in the women's race.

While only 21 adult runners competed for national titles, there were around 70 athletes in the younger age groups.

Ashley Berry and Kyree Burch won the under-20 women's and men's titles respectively, while in the under-17 men's race Juma Mouchette, who was the silver medallist in 2008 championships, went one better to claim the national title ahead of Kameron Creighton. In the under-17 women's race Taylor-Ashley Bean improved from bronze medal position in January to take the top honour this time, staying two minutes clear of runner-up Kameron Minors.

Kyrah Scraders claimed the under-14 girls' national title, having been a runner-up in the under-12 age group in January. In the under-14 boys' race only four seconds separated Nakeno Creighton and the younger Justin Ferreira at the finish line. Creighton lifted the trophy 11 months ago after finishing second in the same category; for Ferreira it was another silver medal to go with the one he collected in the 2008 championships when he competed in the under-12 category.

In the under-12 race David Darrell successfully defended his title from Diondre Dowling, who improved to silver medal position from fourth last January. It was a similar story in the under-12 girls' race as Zakiyyah Showers kept her title, finishing half-a-minute clear of Quasshie Douglas who moved from bronze position in the 2008 championships to silver this time.

There were new names in the under-10s race with Taye Fishington securing victory by six seconds from C.Zee-K.Richards in the boys' race, while Z'ahra Wilson led the way in the girls' race ahead of Syraih Lottimore.

• In the Swan's Running Club's annual Turkey Trott 10K road race yesterday Tony Banks stormed to a personal best of 36 minutes 38 seconds in perfect conditions to claim victory.

Banks worked his way into the lead within the first mile and stayed ahead of top senior Michael Scythes, who was second in 37.58.

Third place went to teenager Ryan Gunn in an impressive 39.08.

Fastest in the masters' category was Scott Neil in 39.46 (time adjusted), fastest senior master (over-60) was Terry Wine in 48.03.

The women's race was won by Commonwealth Games triathlete Karen Smith in 43.14, ahead of Laura Haynes (43.40) and Andrea Banks (44.27).

Top woman senior was Linda McGovern in 56.20, while top senior master woman was Margaret Burgess-Howie in 59.50.

The 5K race walk was won by Caleb Jean-Pierre in 31.30.

Some athletes adjusted their finish time after running around 150 metres short of the full distance having followed the pre-advertised route for the final mile rather than the route described by the race start announcer.