Several of the age groups are still to be decided going into the final races in the Bermuda National Athletic Association Cross-Country Series on Saturday at Chaplin Bay.

Competition is keen in the men’s open where Chayce Smith, Chefton Hall and Larry Marshall are all tied on 20 points, Marshall making a late surge with victories in the last two races at Astwood Park and the Arboretum. Danico Clarke, with two seconds in the last two races, is just four points behind the lead trio.

To be eligible for the series title, competitors have to compete in at least three of the five races. Smith won the first two races before missing the last two.

The deciding race could have all four contenders competing together for the first time in the series.

Rose-Anna Hoey has an unbeatable 14-point lead over Tamika Miranda in the women’s open category with one race to go. Hoey has 30 points from three wins while Miranda was second to Hoey in the last two races after missing the first two.

Some exciting contests are developing in the younger age groups where Ashley Irby and Mikaela Outerbridge are tied on 20 points in the girls’ under-17s, with J’Auna James and Lynsey Palmer close behind on 18 points.

Aaron Jacobs leads Quincy Kuzyk by two points in the boys’ under-17 age group, with Kuzyk winning the last race while Jacobs finished third.

Ryan Outerbridge leads Iziah Tucker by six points in the boys’ under-14s and a top-three finish would ensure him of the title.

Some interesting battles have developed in the younger girls’ age groups where the likes of Ashley Irby, Mikaela Outerbridge, Selah Tuzo, Jessie Marshall, Jade Johnston and Tesyah-Mahle Astwood are all in contention in their respective age groups.

Irby and Outerbridge are tied on 20 points in the under-17s with J’Auna James and Lynsey Palmer just two points behind in what is a wide-open category going into the final race.

Irby missed the last race which enabled the others to close the gap.

Last year Tuzo and Johnston were tied for first in the under-12s, but now Tuzo has moved up to the under-14s where, with three straight wins, she has a four-point lead over Marshall in the under-14s while Kayla Raymond is a further four points back in third place.

Astwood and Johnston are in a two-way tie for first place in the under-12 girls, with Johnston winning the last race to join Astwood on 26 points. Yasmine Smith is six points back in third place.

Donna Watson, the Bermuda National Athletics Association president, is excited about the emergence of Tuzo and Johnston in middle-distance running, two youngsters tipped to follow the success of Kyrah Scraders who is now overseas in college.

“They are both really tough girls, good friends, but when they get on the track you wouldn’t think they are friends,” Watson said.

“I look at those two and keep my fingers crossed they stay in the sport. Both have serious potential on the track.”

Ramiah Brangman leads the under-10 girls on 36 points after two firsts and two seconds while Katherine Bean-Rosarie is second on 28 points. Rajae Whitter has a six-point lead over Elijah Bean in the boys under-10s.

In the men’s and women’s masters Omari Hart leads Scott Neil by two points and Laurie Orchid is two points ahead of Deon Breary in another close category. The winners of the series will be announced at the National Championships, which are scheduled for December 5 at the Botanical Gardens.

“On that day we will be able to announce who the series winners are, so when we give out the championships awards we will give the awards for the series winners,” Watson said.

The KPMG Front Street Mile trials are scheduled for next Friday and after the National Championships the focus will switch to Bermuda Marathon Weekend in January and track meets in preparation of the Carifta Games in Grenada in March.

“We’ll start looking at people from the Front Street Mile trials and identifying the middle-distance athletes and then in January the track season will kick in,” Watson said.