Chris Estwanik will be the overwhelming favourite to snatch his second successive May 24 Marathon Derby crown ahead of a massive record field of almost 1300 runners on Monday morning.

And in the absence of Estwanik's wife, defending champion Ashley who is expecting their first child, female honours are expected to be decided by the evergreen Victoria Fiddick or Front Street Mile winner Jennifer Alen.

But for once the current big-name runners will have to share the limelight with a host of former champions and other Derby legends as Bermuda's biggest road racing spectacle celebrates its 100th anniversary.

To mark the event, many of those who over the past 50 years have stamped their authority on the race and helped make it such a significant date on Bermuda's sporting calendar, have decided to come out of retirement.

And while former track star Estwanik, who has been virtually unbeatable since moving to the Island a couple of years ago, and Fiddick or Alen should set the women's pace, they might not be the centre of attention.

The biggest cheers could be saved for the likes of nine-time winner Kavin Smith, still a top five contender, 77-year-old Ed Sherlock who ruled the road between 1958 and 1962, five-time champion Cal Bean and his new wife, Jane Christie, who claimed female honours in 1983 and 1998, race great Ray Swan, a winner in 1978 and 1981, and Maria Conroy-Haydon who raced into Derby history with victory in 1995.

Others such as 86-year-old Archibald Tucker, who will be wearing the number 86 bib, Midge Oliver, who has missed just two races since females first began competing in 1976 and Peggy Couper who has competed in almost as many, will be joining the celebrations.

Regulars over the last 30 or 40 years such as George Jones, Ray Ming, Peter Lever, Manuel Lopes, Beldwin Smith, Mike (Flying Scot) Whalley, Cal Steede, Terry Wine, Mark Albouy – in fact too many to mention – are also in a field which, including relay runners, totals a stunning 1,297.

It's believed that the biggest previous entry numbered no more than 800.

This year organisers are hoping to raise $100,000 for various local charities and it appears they are now on their way to reaching that target.

During Thursday night's number-pick up a staggering 200 late entries signed up to play a part in what should prove to be the greatest sporting event of the year as, fittingly, Bermuda also celebrates its 400th anniversary.

As for the battle for overall honours, Estwanik, who once came agonisingly close to earning a place on the US Olympic team and on the track has dipped under the magical four minutes, appears to be in a class of his own – although the heat and humidity which has foiled many favourites in previous years could still be a factor.

But his recent performance in this month's 'Sir' Stanley Burgess 5K when he clocked a highly impressive 14 minutes, 31 seconds to finish more than 40 seconds ahead of second-placed Lamont Marshall, is enough to suggest he's going into the race in peak form.

In the absence of the 2007 winner, Lamont's brother Larry, and Terrance Armstrong, who reigned supreme between 2004 and 2006, Estwanik could quickly find himself all alone at the front.

But not if, Lamont, triathlete Tyler Butterfield or Jay Donawa could all have their say.

Despite having never won the event, Donawa has been recognised as one of the Derby's most consistent contenders and one of the most competitive, finishing as runner-up on numerous occasions in the late 1990s and since the turn of the century.

And although it's unlikely he can finally break through this year, he will still be aiming for a top three finish.

Among the women, Fiddick, although in the Masters division (over 40), stands out as the odds-on favourite, particularly in the absence of Ashley Estwanik and 2007 winner Dawn Richardson who left the Island earlier this year.

Alen would appear to be Fiddick's most serious threat but a challenge could also be mounted by Deanna McMullen and Karen Bordage.

Besides the recognised runners, Monday's classic has attracted top sportsmen from other sports, such as Hogges footballer Damon Ming, number one tennis player Andy Bray and former amateur golf champion Mark Dupuy.

Dale Butler, author of the book 'Marathon' which documents the history of the race, will start the event in Somerset at 9.30 a.m. and his fellow MP Zane DeSilva will be among those who answer the gun.

Organisers are providing two ferries, leaving from Albouy's Point in Hamilton at 7.45 a.m., to take runners to Somerset but competitors have been warned to get there early and make alternative arrangements to get to the start line in case the ferries are fully packed.

With the runners required to wear 'chips' to ensure they are accurately timed, they are asked to pick up those chips from 7.30 a.m. onwards on Monday at the start line.