Donawa to finish first and second again in the May 24 race.

Then the real race will begin for third place, Hart further predicted.

"I definitely feel it will be a one-man race again, with Kavin taking the honours and possibly the new record, with Jay not too far behind,'' said Hart.

Hart has been in contact with Smith via e-mail while the five-time winner is in New Mexico where he has been training the last few weeks in the hopes of qualifying for the Olympics.

Under normal circumstances Smith has been unbeatable as his five wins in 1993, '95, '96, '97 and '99 have shown. Expect him to be even faster after weeks of altitude training, with the other runners chasing his shadow.

"His mileage base is up to 145 miles a week, whereas before he was just about breaking 100 miles,'' said Hart who wasn't sure if Smith was putting his focus on breaking the 1:08.30 barrier which would guarantee him a $5,000 cheque from Sports R Us.

The sports store will also again offer $5,000 to the female runner who breaks the 1:19.56 record set by Sandra Mewett. Karen Adams had the fastest time for the women last year of 1:31.24 which placed her 49th overall. "Nothing would be more exciting to have to write out cheques for $10,000,'' Sports R Us manager Daren Mayeaux said yesterday.

"We have the talent, we just have to make sure we push that talent to the next level.'' And the carrot is not just being dangled in front of the top runners, with the store also offering discount vouchers for anybody who beats their 1999 times.

To be eligible any runner who competed last year must log that time with the store who will offer a one percent discount for every minute that runner runs faster this year.

For example a 10-minute improvement would result in a 10 percent discount, redeemable during the month of October. The maximum offered by the store will be a 50 percent discount.

"If we can move everybody's times up it will improve the whole participation,'' says Mayeaux.

If Smith is not pushed by the other top runners, certainly the $5,000 will have him thinking about the 1:08.30 time. He holds the record for the race of 1:09.49 and was nine seconds outside that record last year.

"I personally think it's (1:08.30) within his reach, based on the training he's been doing. I'll go out on a limb and say that,'' said Hart.

"We haven't really talked about the race, he's kept his cards close to his chest.'' Added Hart: "I think the race is going to be for third place, between Brett Forgesson, David Dunwoody, Sylvester Jean-Pierre and possibly Leon Bascome.

The dark horses should be Van Doyling, possibly Colin Swan and hopefully myself. Third to sixth will be the real race.'' Hart was sixth last year, some nine minutes behind the winner, and he will be happy with another top six finish. His best finish in the race is fifth.

"I don't think you can expect much from me, due to the fact that I've had three trips in the last seven weeks and it has taken a toll on me training-wise.'' Continued on page 15 Smith starts favourite Continued from page 13 Donawa won the Regiment five-miler on the weekend, with Dunwoody, Forgesson, Hart and Bascome completing the top five. But the gruelling holiday race -- the one all the locals come out to see -- will be completely different as Donawa already knows from past experience. "I would even go as far as saying that maybe it would be suicidal for Jay to go out with Kavin,'' said Hart.

"Jay should definitely run his own race. Unfortunately this race has not been kind to him, but he's in far better shape than four years ago. "Pace judgement is definitely the key. If you go out too fast to Burnt House Hill you could struggle to make it home. "Most people do say the race really starts on Burnt House Hill. it will come down to the person who runs the smartest and has the willpower.'' Jamal Hart: tips Smith to win.

Top three contenders: Jay Donawa (left), who finished second in last year's Marathon Derby, ahead of Brett Forgesson, who came third.