If history repeats itself, a bumper field will turn out for the 12th annual PartnerRe Women's 5K road race tomorrow.

More than 300 runners took part in the charity fund-raising event last year plus another 500 walkers.

Tomorrow, the Botanical Gardens start line should be just as crowded.

What is assured is that the race will have a new champion.

Last year Australian professional cyclist Nikki Egyed, the wife of Bermuda's top pro triathlete Tyler Butterfield, blitzed the field, crossing the finish line in 18 minutes and 33 seconds – some 16 seconds ahead of defending champion Victoria Fiddick.

However, Egyed isn't expected to be in the field this time, leaving the door open for Fiddick to regain her title, although she will face some tough competition from the likes of Olga Firsova and Jennifer Alen, who only last weekend placed first and second respectively in the women's open division at the Fifth Avenue Mile in New York.

The races begin at 8.30 a.m.