Respect goes to the champion, thus two-time winner Robert Yara of the United States rates at the top of this year's ADT Bermuda Marathon list.

However, the Texan can expect little from those aspiring to dislodge him from the throne and this year's event has a trio of Europeans anxious to leave their mark on Bermuda.

Russian Juri Kazmin, the Moscow International Marathon winner and holder of a personal best time of 2:13:14 over 26.2 miles -- which is nearly three minutes better than Yara's own personal record -- stands as the leader of the charge.

The remainder include countryman Nail Bairamgalin and Hungary's Rudolf Csikos.

Bairamgalin and Csikos carry best recorded times of 2:21 and 2:19:10 respectively.

Another factor going against Yara is his age, as he is listed among the 40 to 49 age group, and although the heart and dedication no doubt remains, he may not possess the same spring in his step.

Conversely, the aforementioned trio are all in or near their peak years, which may make for yet another intriguing race.

Last year saw Yara resign himself to second place after falling well behind a blazing Scott Bagley, only to gain a second life when the latter ran out of gas with three miles remaining, handing Yara the title.

On the plus side is the fact that Yara has valuable knowledge of the local course and as a native of Texas, would likely be more suited to the conditions -- high humidity and temperatures -- than his rivals.

Bermuda's Brett Forgesson, fifth last year, is signed up for another go-round and looks for this as a springboard for the new season.

"It's a good warm-up to get the legs moving and stuff like that,'' said Forgesson after placing second in Sunday's Princess to Princess race and who recently recorded his best time ever, a 2:26 at the Sacramento Marathon in California.

"Every runner builds up to (International) Race Weekend. It's probably our biggest single race. Everybody will be in good shape and there should be some good racing.'' Once again Kim Goff stands as the woman to beat, although her best time of 2:44:16 would rank her well behind many of her challengers.

But having preformed in more than 30 marathons in her road running career, including a win at the 1993 Barbados Marathon, there are none more seasoned.

A much improved field also includes the likes of Russia's Galina Gurjanova, winner of the Santiago Marathon and with a reported best of 2:35:17, Laura Konantz of Canada, America's Tammy Fluffer and local favourite Sandra Mewett.

Mewett was third last year and has secretly stated her intention of going for Debbie Butterfield's local record of 2:54:18.

Mewett ran 2:51 in Sacramento and has a best of 2:37:70 recorded in Houston a few year's back.

SANDRA MEWETT -- Finished third last year and has designs on Debbie Butterfield's local record.