Talented teenager Larry Marshall jr will have more on his mind than a fast time and a high finish when he competes in this Thursday's prestigious Peachtree 10K in Atlanta, Georgia.

The middle distance runner is hoping his performance will catch the eye of US college coaches and perhaps land him an athletics scholarship.

Nineteen-year-old Marshall is among some 35 runners from Swan's Running Club who leave the Island today for the annual July 4 event which is billed as the biggest 10K in the world. More than 20,000 runners are expected to compete.

Last year Marshall was the first of the local runners to finish, dealing well with the heat and humidity to place 98th overall in a time of 34 minutes and 14 seconds.

This time around he aims to trim more than a minute off that time, hoping that cooler weather will help his cause and help him attract the attention of college coaches whom he expects to be evaluating performances of youngsters such as himself during the race.

"I'm really excited about this race. I am mostly excited about getting the international exposure at a time when I am trying to get some scholarship offers from schools in America," said Marshall yesterday. "This race will also enable me to broaden my horizons and hopefully lower my 10K time.

"The setting in Atlanta is ideal to lower times because of the competitiveness and the atmosphere. Running in a similar event over the same distance here in Bermuda obviously wouldn't get any notice from a foreign coach."

While Marshall again expects the competition to be keen, he believes his knowledge of the course and the fact that he enters the race in better condition than he was a year ago, will help him clock a quick time.

Marshall placed fifth in the annual May 24 Marathon Derby this year, and under the coaching of his father, Larry Marshall sr, says he has put in plenty of mileage on both the road and the National Sports Centre track in recent weeks in preparation for the Atlanta challenge.

"I feel that I can do it in under 33.20 this time around, that's my goal," said Marshall. "I know for certain that I am better physically this time and combined with the fact that I know the course, this should give me an added advantage to reach my goals."

Others travelling with the Swan's club are: Tracy Wright, Mark Albouy, Edwina Arorash, Carol Bassett, Roddy Bassett, Eddie Benjamin, Hilton Brown, Kathy Burgess, Glennis Butterfield, Clinton Curtis, Mitchell DeShield, Jenene Douglas, Terence Douglas, Vernal Durham, Jewel Eve, Edward Harvey, Dirk Hassellkus, Tonya Howard, Zina Jones, Michael Mello, Ronald Mills, Guy McPartlin, Karen Perinchief, Donnamae Smith, Calvin Steede, Sharon Swan, Vernon Tankard, Elvin Thomas and Cecil Whitecross.