Skipping next week's Marathon Derby was not an easy decision for defending champion Tracy Wright.

And even though he says he is in good enough condition following a recent foot injury to complete the Somerset to Hamilton race, he is worried about the quality of his performance in Bermuda's oldest road race.

Wright confirmed yesterday that he will miss the popular race so as to concentrate on his long term goal of qualifying for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

He is still on the mend from the injury he picked up in the Paris Marathon last month.

"I'm able to run but I just feel my fitness is not where I would like it,'' said Wright yesterday.

"I can do the distance but I wouldn't be able to run a quality time, so that's disappointing from that aspect.

"I feel I would have a bad race and it would set me back mentally. I am disappointed because I would really like to run. I feel fine but I don't want to stretch it that much.

"At the Paris Marathon I got a pain in my arch a couple of kilometres from the finish. When I started training again I got the same pain in my arch and that set my training back and I had to take a break.'' Wright finished the Paris race in two hours, 38 minutes, well off the qualifying time of 2:20 for the Olympics.

"I had a bad starting position which held me back a little, but otherwise I was happy with the race,'' said Wright, 36 next month.

"I would like to go back to Paris again next year, it's a nice, fast course.

I'm also going to try to use New York this year as a qualifier and to see where my fitness is and to bring my time down.

"I haven't been doing too much racing, just mainly trying to concentrate on getting my speed up for next year's Olympics.'' Wright also has the CAC Games and the Pan-Am Games in his sights, looking to compete in the 10,000 metres.

He won his second Marathon Derby title last year when he completed the race in 1:15.18, having previously triumphed in 1990.

Kavin Smith missed the 1998 race but has already been installed as hot favourite for his fifth triumph since 1993.

"It's one of our major races and I like to run it, but this year my focus wasn't on May 24, even though I'm the defending champion,'' said Wright.

"I love to compete in it and it's a nice race and all that, but I'm really focused on other things right now.'' The deadline for late entries is today at noon, but Wright insists there is no chance of a late change of mind, even though he delayed his decision not to compete.

"I had been holding off for the past couple of weeks, but when I did the Maple Leaf 10K I was really out of it and that made me decide that I wasn't going to run,'' he added.

"I just started training up at the track but it's just too late, trying to do too much in too little time. I know the late deadline is tomorrow but I still feel I'm not ready.'' Last year Wright's main threats were Jay Donawa and Brett Forgesson, with the fast-starting Donawa fading near the finish and being pipped for second place by Forgesson. Donawa, who has started a new job as a fireman, is also a doubtful starter, having recently come off an injury.

Forgesson and Smith had top three finishes in Sunday's Bermuda Regiment's Warrant Officer's/Sergeant's Mess five-miler, with Smith winning in 26.12 and newcomer to the Island, John Wassenaar of Canada, placing second in 26.52 and Forgesson third in 27.07.

Soldier Jamal Hart, another potential top five finisher next week, was fourth while master Sylvester Jean-Pierre and Calvin Steede completed the top six.

"I believe Kavin is still the favourite, along with Brett and Wassenaar,'' said Wright, who has regularly been in the top five himself.

"Sylvester will be up there, he's running strong. I like to go up against Kavin. By him running it also bring down my times, so it's good for me, too.

But it just ain't happening this year.

"I'll probably be in town somewhere, I'll take the family out and just enjoy the day.'' A record entry of more than 60 runners will compete in next Monday's Junior Classic, now in its third year.

And with the two-mile race open to only those between the ages of eight and 15, last year's boys champion Tyler Butterfield, now 16, won't be defending his title.

That should leave Mark Morrison, Henry Talbot and Lamont Marshall battling for first place with Flora Duffy favoured among the girls.

Entrants should pick up their numbers this Thursday between 4.00 and 6.00 p.m.

at the Wesley Methodist Church Hall.

Further information is available from organiser Ed Ball at 295-8025 or 236-4832.

Tracy Wright: focused on qualifying for next year's Sydney Olympics.