Half-Marathon last month, top middle-distance runner Kavin Smith has predictably been tipped as the man to beat in tomorrow's Butterfield and Vallis Minute Maid 5-K race.

The event, which is being organised jointly by the Bermuda Union of Teacher and The Mid Atlantic Athletic Club, was formerly the Yamaha 5-K. With the change of sponsorship this year comes a new start which will be at Butterfield and Vallis on Woodland's Road at 9a.m.

The person making the outright prediction for Smith to be the conqueror is somebody who is quite familiar with this particular race, defending champion Mark Perry whose role has been reduced to that of an official after having had arthroscopic surgery on his knee on January 24.

Smith's strongest challengers are expected to be Tracy Wright who was second in the half-marathon and Brett Forgesson who followed Smith home in the Princess to Princess.

"I think Kavin has a good chance of breaking the record as his times reflect that he can run beyond that,'' said Perry.

"I think he'll have to not over-pace himself in the first mile-and-a-half, an even pace will determine whether he can break the time,'' added the reigning champion who has not raced competitively since August.

Perry set a new record of 15:20 last year when he beat Tyler Hall into second place, but whether Smith makes a serious attempt to challenge the record on Sunday remains to be seen.

Smith revealed that his strategy for the race depended on how his coach evaluated his present condition which was being closely monitored to prepare him for the CAC Regional Championships. He said that there was no telling how he would run on Sunday.

But if Smith is given the go-ahead to challenge the course it may well see another record being set.

"It's possible last year's time could be beaten, I'm really getting there,'' he said of his conditioning.

Smith added: "The course is a little different and it's hard to say if it will be a quicker race.'' Race Director Jeremy Ball said that he anticipated the usual large list of entries, including most of the elite road runners in the island. Last year just over 250 competed.

Ball though didn't see much change to the course other than the start which was just under 300 metres north of the previous one.

The runners will go south and around the round-about opposite Holmes Williams and Purvey and on to Serpentine Road, turn right on Pitts Bay Road and to Spanish Point. The course will then take them back to the start via the North Shore Road, Berkeley Road and St. John's Road.

Despite the change of sponsors the event has maintained the top prize which is a new Yahama scooter. There are also several smaller prizes which will be awarded for the winners of the various divisions.

Ball said that the event has gained a lot of attention this year because the proceeds will go towards sending a team of junior athletes oversees to the Caribbean University of Teachers bi-ennial meet in St. Kitts in the summer.

An article yesterday in The Royal Gazette mentioned that a clash between Paul Edness and Brett Forgesson after a road race last summer followed alleged remarks made by Edness to Forgesson's wife Anna Eatherley. Edness has asked to make it clear that it was Eatherley who first made a comment to him, as was reported in the original article.