But the local ace is not at all fazed by the presence of the prominent visitor and makes no big issue of the threat that he poses in the Tropicana 10-K which is jointly sponsored by Dunkley's Diary and Wheels Limited.

"I hope he isn't coming to test me because it's not going to be a great time.

I'm not feeling that dread right now because I haven't been doing that much,'' said Smith.

"I've been like the Energizer battery ...just going and going and my body's really hurting. It's like when you have peaks and valleys, well I'm at the downside of the slope and need to come back up.'' Even still, Smith is quick to point out that he isn't about to concede anything and noted that he will be prepared for any challenge.

"Don't get me wrong I'll go for the challenge, but I'm not in the type of condition that I would want to be. I'll see how I cope under the circumstances,'' he said.

The route has been changed to the International 10-K course but starting and finishing at National Sports Club instead.

The race, which is the sixth in the KPMG Peat Marwick National Road Running Series, will get under at 9.30a.m.

There is still a $500 bonus in effect for the first local man and local woman who complete the course under the record of 31:24 (for the men) and 35:17 (women).

Graeme Fell is highly rated as both a track runner in the 3,000 metres and 5,000 metres and a cross-country runner. His impressive credentials include being ranked in the top 10 in the world in 1982, '83, '85, '86, '87, '89, '90 and '91 in the 3,000 metres.

He is also a Canadian record-holder in the 3,000 metres steeplechase and the 5,000 metres (indoors), having been a seven-time steeplechase champion. Fell was a Commonwealth Games gold medalist in 1986 and silver medalist at the same games in 1982.

In cross-country, Fell, who turns 35 next month, was ranked number one in Canada in 1992 and '93. He was also the Canadian University champion in 1992 and was the fastest Canadian 10-K runner in 1989, '90, '92 and '93.

While in Bermuda Fell will conduct a steeplechase clinic today at 2.00 at the National Stadium.

Fresh from her sixth Government Sports award and third medal in the CAC Cross-Country Competition, top female runner Jennifer Fisher enjoyed further success in the Bahamas last weekend.

Fisher stayed in the Bahamas after the cross country event and travelled from Nassau to Freeport where she won the open female division of the Bahama 5000, an international 5-K road race.

The Bermudian ran a time of 18 minutes flat in placing 10th overall of the 300-plus participants, beating Lisa Dorfman (18:51) from Miami and Della Potish (19:43) of Indiana for the top female spot.

The race was run over a certified flat course in hot and humid conditions, which slowed all times.