Lamont Marshall was the top local men’s finisher in the 10K, crossing the line seventh overall in 32 minutes and 27 seconds, two places ahead of Trey Simons.

In windy and rainy conditions, Marshall, 29, stayed with the lead pack until the Flatts area, where he dropped off the pace set by Jordan Chipangama, the overall winner from Zambia, Diriba Yigezu, of Ethiopia and Zambia’s Harry Mulenga, the Elite Mile winner last night.

However, Marshall ran steady to finish 1min 40sec behind Chipangama and more than two minutes ahead of Simons, who crossed the tape in 34:49. Christopher Harris was third local male, his time of 35:15 earning him a top-ten finish.

“Coming out, obviously the inclement conditions weren’t the best, but I was with the pack and we were doing five minutes a mile or just under,” Marshall said. “I just fell off round about mile three and struggled going up North Shore. It just wasn’t my best day altogether, though even with good conditions I don’t think I would have been at my best. It was just one of those things, I had a good run in the Fairmont to Fairmont and at some point it takes its toll, but I’m still pleased with my performance and being able to hang with the lead group for at least half the distance.

“I take my hat off to the winners; they ran a good race. It was close and competitive in the early stages and that’s what I’ve got to do to get better, to hang with the lead pack longer and longer.

“Overall, it was a good workout for me. I was looking to go under 31 [minutes] being that I did the Fairmont to Fairmont in 31:10, so I figured I would try to go under that. It just wasn’t my day but it all comes with the sport and I’m just pleased to get the workout and a good steam for my legs.”

Marshall was using the race to prepare for next month’s North American, Central American and Caribbean Cross Country Championships in Trinidad, one of three overseas events that he is focusing on this year.

“This season I want to perform well at Nacac cross country, the World Relays in Bahamas and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow,” he said. “I’m just sticking to track for the next couple of years, but whenever you can get a quality field at the level these guys are at, it is always good and the crowds are there to encourage you.

“I’m feeling pretty strong, the overall goal distance is 1,500 metres and 5K, so that’s the reason I’m doing the seven-milers and 10Ks on the road. Once I do get to the track, hopefully end of March, April, I’ll have that strength.”

Simons, only 20, continued his return to competitive running with a good showing despite the conditions. “The rain I didn’t really mind,” Simons said. “I just came back from the Mile last night, so my legs felt all right.

“This is my first time competing in this event, so I just went out there to have fun. It’s hard to judge on a road course, not like the track. For me, it’s definitely track — 800, 1,500 and 5,000. I’m just using this for strength training.

“The rain was blowing right in our faces coming along North Shore, but I had fun; I enjoyed it.”

Simons was one place and 26 seconds ahead of Harris while 15-year-old Tyler Smith finished an impressive fifteenth overall in 37:12. He was in a sequence of four locals crossing the line in succession, starting with Mark Morrison in fourteenth place, followed by Smith, Ashley Estwanik and Daniel Oatley, who beat Smith in the Mile the night before.

“The conditions last night were really good, no wind at all, but today the rain came,” Smith said. “Coming back on the last 1½ miles on North Shore, the wind was right in your face, so I was working with a couple of other guys trying to block the wind for each other.

“I really wanted to run today because last night Daniel beat me on the line, so I really felt motivated to come and try to beat him. I didn’t run this race last year, but the year before I was a little bit over 40 [minutes], so I was looking to go about 36, 37 to try to see where I’m at.”