HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC) — Three Jamaican runners – including record holder Kenia Sinclair – claimed minor placings as the annual Bermuda Marathon Weekend got under way with a series of mile races enjoyed by a bumper crowd here on Friday night.

Making her first appearance in the women’s elite mile for the first time in five years, 35-year-old Sinclair broke from the start and threatened to run away with the race on a course with sharp turns at each end of Front Street.

But Sinclair, who set the race record of four minutes, 33.61 seconds en route to her third title in 2011, had to settle for second place when American Heather Kampf stormed by her down the final stretch to claim her fourth consecutive victory in the event.

Kampf, 28, won in 4:42.68 with Sinclair clocked in 4:46.43. Kampf’s compatriot Jamie Cheever rounded out the podium with third place in 4:47.68.

“Every time I come back it is even more special because this place feels like another home to me,” an elated Kampf said afterwards.

Kampf’s winning time was not her best, not that it mattered on a night that belonged to her.

“It was not a personal best,” she said. “But maintaining at this time of year is good and then you want to see the improvements as your season goes on.”

Policeman Stephen Allen, a Jamaican resident, failed to repeat his victory in the local men’s race in which he was beaten to first place by Spencer Butterfield, brother of two time Olympic triathlete Tyler Butterfield.

Butterfield charged across the finish line in 4:33.99, ahead of Allen in 4:41.53 and third-place Christopher Hands in 4:43.38.

Another Jamaican living in Bermuda, Deon Breary, came third in the local women’s race, which was won by Tamika Miranda in five minutes, 20 seconds.

Miranda was among a small bunch that also included Jennifer Alen and Breary which broke away from the field from the outset.

Breary, the past Bermuda Day Half-Marathon winner, eventually fell off the pace at the halfway stage, leaving Miranda and Alen to battle it out between them.