This Sunday?s AON National Sprint Triathlon Championships over a 750 metre swim, 20K bike and 5K run could well provide one of the closest finishes for some years among the men as most of the Island?s leading triathletes will be on the starting line.

Defending champion Geoffrey Smith, who has yet to race this season, will have his work cut out if he?s to retain his title. The talented junior faces a stiff challenge from Jamie Brown and Riann Naude, both of whom recently produced outstanding performances at the Triathlon World Championships and the Panama City Half Ironman.

Naude was the winner of the Olympic distance Pirates Port Triathlon earlier in the year while Brown clocked a fast one hour, three minutes and 12 seconds to win the sprint event at the same race.

Brown will probably start as a slight favourite but will need a good run to hold off Naude who is almost certain to record the fastest run of the day.

Also likely to be in the running for overall honours will be Neil de ste Croix who has re-emerged this season as a top contender. De Ste Croix, a former Bermuda National Triathlon Champion, will need a good swim ? historically his weakest discipline ? if he?s to be in contention going into the run.

A dark horse in the field will be Matthew Herring, another outstanding junior, who is a strong swimmer and cyclist and could hold down the lead going into the run. However, his run has always been his weak link and without much training under his belt he?s unlikely to hold off the likes of Brown and Naude.

Others to watch are Norbert Meyer and juniors Coyatito Smith, Khamari Greaves and the fast improving Matthew Godfrey who had a very impressive race in the Pirates Port Triathlon to finish second behind Brown.

With defending female champion Karen Smith pregnant and not competing, 16-year old Flora Duffy will start as a firm favourite unless Deanna McMullen determines to enter the individual event.

McMullen produced an impressive performance in the Ralph?s Half Ironman Triathlon in April but would need to have a strong bike and run to catch Duffy who is a strong swimmer and will most likely have a two to four minute lead over McMullen going into the bike.

Karen Madeiros and Caroline Mitchell will most likely battle it out for the other podium spots, while junior Amy Fox will be another one to watch.

In addition to the overall National Sprint Champions participants will be competing to take the various age group titles. The 13 to 15 division will almost certainly be dominated by Matthew Godfrey but behind him there should be some close competition between Thomas Godfrey, Tim Fox, Dorian Armstrong and Justin Collis. Another close finish is expected in the men?s 50-plus between Steve Petty and Jeff Conyers, who both represented Bermuda at the recent Triathlon World Championships.