Tomorrow's cross-country race starting from Astwood Park is shaping up as an interesting affair, with several of the Island's top runners expected to compete (9 a.m. start).

The event, which has men covering seven miles and the women three, has attracted the likes of Brett Forgesson, Tracy Wright and Errol Cormack on the men's side as well as leading female runners Jennifer Fisher and Penelope Butterfield.

Forgesson, who has been absent from the road running scene for several weeks because of injury, returns to challenge Wright, just back from a stint in Atlanta, and recent Elbow Beach Half Marathon champion Errol Cormack.

Jamaican-born Cormack, also just off the shelf following a lengthy absence, romped to victory at the weekend during the half marathon, winning by a little less than one minute ahead of Masters competitor Rod Allen.

After running alongside each other for the first nine miles of the 13.1 mile race Cormack pulled away on McGall's Hill and never looked back, eventually clocking a relatively pedestrian time of one hour, 16 minutes, 49 seconds compared to 1:17.38 for Allen.

However, this week he faces what appears a much stiffer test against Commonwealth Games marathoner Forgesson and the evergreen Wright.

"I'm not in top shape yet but I'm getting there,'' was Cormack's response to questions of his fitness following the Elbow race.

Still, he showed little effect of the nasty leg wound that required surgery and had kept him out of the reckoning the past two years.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Fisher, who last year made the cross country series her personal stage looks set to continue the trend after a splendid year, that saw her also take part in the Commonwealth Games as well as numerous other track races overseas.

The fast-improving Butterfield may not have much of a chance of beating Fisher, but could add to her growing resume with a solid showing.

The race starts at Astwood Park, with participants travelling by road to Long Bay and then taking the railway trail to Chaplin Bay car park, on to Horseshoe Bay and back to Astwood Park. The women run the route once, while the men are required to complete two laps.

Jennifer Fisher .