numbers taking part will not make International Race Weekend any less exciting an event, say organisers.

Race director Judith Simmons admitted it was disheartening to hear that the Island will not be graced by the presence of two-time elite mile champion Karl Paranya of the US and marathon champion El Afoui Boubker of Morocco, both injured in training last week.

And although late entries continue to come in, officials have accepted the fact that this year's final entry list will be around the 850 mark, down by more than 100 on last year.

Nevertheless, Simmons felt Race Weekend had all the ingredients to be as electrifying as ever.

"We definitely have a quality event, too bad injury forced out Paranya and Boubker, it really is unfortunate but those things happen and sometimes are impossible to avoid when you are out there training so intensely,'' said Simmons.

She added: "The bottom line is that even if a champion is not able to return to defend his title, there was no guarantee that he would have had an easy time repeating this time around.

"These are top runners who have been invited, some who are coming have produced strong and very impressive resumes.

"We choose them on what they did last year, and in all cases their times are fantastic, some even more impressive than the champions who would have really been challenged had they returned.'' One such individual who could set the courses alight, in tomorrow night's Front Street Mile and Saturday's 10K, is Morocco's Mohamed Amyn who became the first elite athlete to arrive when he touched down on the Island on Tuesday evening.

Amyn appears to be more of a threat in the 10K having turned in a personal best of 28:03 last year compared against his best of 4:00.1 in the mile.

With defending champion Sammy Ng'eno of Kenya still uncertain about coming due to the illness of his father, Amyn may be one of the favourites going into the 10K. Race officials were yesterday still waiting to hear if Ng'eno, who is still at home, could still make the long trip to the Island in time for both the mile and the 10K.

Among the other elite runners registered for tomorrow night's race are Leonard Mucheru of Kenya (3:56), Scott Anderson of the US (3:59.76), Samuel Gabremarian of the US (3:59) and Rich Tremain of Canada (3:58.8).

The race director reckoned that the women's 10K could be one of the more exciting events with defending champion Courtney Babcock of Canada expected to be stretched to the limit.

"There could be an intense challenge offered here based on the times that others entered have posted,'' said Simmons.

"At this moment Courtney's only advantage could be based on the fact that she knows the course, but others have turned in such outstanding times that we expect this race to be one of the closest.'' Babcock's best time is 32:13, but she will be forced to record something in this region to fend off challenged offered by Grace Momany of Kenya (32:14), Katie McGregor of the US (32:33), Naomi Wangui of Kenya (33:15) and Tania Jones of Canada (33:22).

The official meeting for the Front Street Invitational Mile and International Race Weekend will be held at the Department of Youth and Sport this evening at 6.00 p.m. For more information contact Mike Swan on 296-6937.

Courtney Babcock