He will not compete in Bermuda International Race Weekend but Terrance Armstrong definitely plans to defend his Marathon Derby crown next May.

The US-based Bermudian athlete yesterday confirmed his intention to seek back-to-back success in the Island?s top road race after wresting the title from perennial winner Kavin Smith in stunning fashion this year.

?God willing, if everything works out well for me, of course I would like to come home and have the opportunity to defend the title,? said Armstrong, now rebounding from a series of injuries.

?It?s something that I cherish and I?ve always liked the rivalry with Jay (Donawa) and Kavin (Smith). I?m sure Jay is going to come out with a vengeance.

?We?re very good friends and we speak a lot. His training seems to be going very well.

?I?ve had some setbacks thus far and who knows how things will turn out but I?m going to keep plugging away and see how things go.

?I?m sure it?s going to be another fun-filled day for everyone to watch.?

A second win in the May 24 classic would be a great boost for the long-distance runner whose 2004 season ? despite triumphing here ? did not go as well as he planned with injuries derailing his marathon ambitions.

?After winning May 24 I was probably in the best shape of my life but I took a few weeks off and then tried to get myself going again but I developed a few injuries,? he continued.

?Although I had those setbacks with injury, I was quite fit to run the New York Marathon which I had intended but I opted out. I didn?t feel confident because my training wasn?t as consistent as I had anticipated it would have been.

?So I have pretty much been running a lot of distance, trying to stay healthy and looking to get back into some races in March and start my season.?

The Marathon Derby champion was beset by a hip flexor problem and then a stress fracture on the top of his left foot which impeded his walking.

Now with all that behind him, Armstrong is optimistic about 2005 once he can get the same type of training he did this year. His goals are still firmly set on conquering the ultimate distance event ? the marathon.

?Last year was my second year focusing on that type of distance. It?s something I am still learning and I hope to actually master in a few years because I am getting pretty old now,? he said.

?It?s a matter of mastering the half (marathon) so I can move up to the marathon and take a crack at it and know my capabilities.

?I?m hoping to pursue my first full marathon, put something (a time) on paper and start moving forward.?

He still longs to wear the Island?s colours at an Olympic Games but in recent months has decided it would definitely have to be in the marathon as his track goals have all but disappeared.

?Most definitely, the Olympics is an option I wouldn?t like to throw out the window yet if I can move up to the marathon and become very good at that.

?That?s something I have set my goals on, going in 2008, if not, in 2012. I?m not getting much younger so I?ve got to get things rolling.?

Citing family commitments, the athlete noted he no longer had the time to concentrate on track racing.

?I believe my track aspirations are pretty much on the back burner now. I still love to run Penn Relays which I won?t give up ? I use that as a training race before May 24 ? and if I can qualify for CAC (Central American & Caribbean) or whichever other events I can represent Bermuda at, I will do that but I?m focusing more on distance (running).

?A lot of my time now is focused on my family so I don?t have as much time to train on the track nor the flexibility to do all the things I did when I was single.?