partner Jay Donawa for the coveted Marathon Derby title on Monday.

And even though his victory over Donawa in the Evian 10-miler in March gives him a tremendous boost, Wright isn't taking anything for granted in the annual holiday 13.3 mile race from Somerset to Hamilton.

"Even though I beat him in the 10-miler, May 24 is whole different race,' said a cautious Wright last night after completing a training run over an international 10K course.

Wright has been without a victory in the May 24 race since his only triumph in 1990, though since then he has consistently finished among the top four. Last year he was second behind Kavin Smith, who has confirmed he won't compete this year.

However, even in Smith's absence, Wright has others to contend with, like Brett Forgesson, Kevin Tucker and Ronue Cann -- third fourth and fifth a year ago. Former winner Mike Watson is another who can't be counted out, though Donawa would appear to be his biggest threat.

"I know Jay's got a lot of potential,'' Wright acknowledges. "He is a lot quicker than me in the shorter races like the 10Ks but right now it's hard to say over the 13 miles who is going to be the strongest.

"Endurance, I know he's been working on it and I feel if he runs his race it could be his day. We've got a lot of respect for each other but when it comes down to it, it is probably going to be one of us to win.

"I've got the experience in distance and he's got the experience in speed.

I'm the type of person who likes to sit back and see how it goes in the first couple of miles and then I'll try to dictate the race after seven or eight miles.'' Wright, 35 next month, admits his focus has been more on track in trying to qualify for the CAC and Commonwealth Games this summer and with other priorities in his personal life hasn't been psyched up for this race.

"I'm still not quite motivated like I want to be,'' said Wright. "I've been training under Gerry Swan since last September and the year before that I was with him just for the cross-country. I have stayed with him to try to see what I can do on the track.

"That's where my goals are right now, to try to qualify for CAC and Commonwealth in the 10,000 and 5,000 metres.'' Up to yesterday the Marathon Derby organisers had over 400 entries for the race. The deadline for the late entries is tomorrow at noon and indications are the field could surpass the 482 who competed last year.

Meanwhile, Terrance Armstrong, who finished second to Mike Watson in the 1991 Marathon Derby, shattered Watson's 10-year old, 1,500 metres Bermuda record (3:44.20) on Saturday at the James Madison University Invitational Meet in North Carolina.

Armstrong, now residing in Washington DC, set a new Bermuda mark with his time of 3:43.51 which placed him fifth among some 70 competitors. The race was won by Steve Holman in 3:38.45.