the reigning women's marathon champion Sandra Mewett to withdraw from this year's race from Somerset to Hamilton on May 24.

Winner of the female category an unprecedented eight times -- which is a record that far exceeds that of any other male or female competitor -- Mewett's withdrawal now means that the prestigious local race will this year definitely see new champions emerge in both the male and female divisions.

The reigning male champion, Jamaican-born Errol Cormack, has already revealed that he will not participate because of an injury, and now Mewett has followed in his footsteps.

Recalling the incident that led to the setback last Wednesday when she was riding along the Harrington Sound road in Smith's, Mewett said that she was simply thrown over the handle bars of the cycle after a technical problem developed near the rear wheel sprocket.

"It was the bike's fault, certainly not mine,'' said a smiling Mewett yesterday as she recalled the incident. "There wasn't anyone else involved. I changed the gear and then the technical problem developed that led to the chain coming undone.'' Before she knew it the well-known runner was being thrown over the handlebars with her face scraping along a wall and her body finally slamming onto the hard pavement. Fortunately for Mewett, she only fractured her wrist and received scratches all over her body without suffering more serious injuries.

Mewett believes that her arm will remain in a cast for up to 12 weeks, but it is not that injury which will prevent her from running on May 24. It is the many other discomforting knocks that she picked up from the fall that is preventing her from being as mobile as she would like.

"There is still a lot of discomfort, I am feeling quite uncomfortable physically right now as a result of the fall,'' she said. "I actually would run on May 24 if I only had the cast, without any of the other problems.

"I'm really disappointed because I won't be able to compete in the marathon.

It certainly is the race of the year as far as I am concerned. One just cannot express the regret by not being able to run this time.'' Despite the spill, Mewett is not about to give up cycling, claiming that she is about to set up a stationary bike at home to make up for being unable to ride outside.

Mewett, who set a Marathon Derby record of one hour and 18 minutes three years ago, reckons that the setback has virtually sidelined her for the "rest of the season,'' but still did not rule out the possibility of making a return to the running scene late in the summer.

Like many of the top male runners, she did not intend to compete in Sunday's Pure Water 10-K race, preferring to rest a hip injury instead of using the event for a tune-up for the marathon.

Tracy Wright, winner of the Marathon Derby in 1990, is another runner who could miss out this year because of injury.

Wright has been unable compete in recent road-running races because of an ailing back and ankle and yesterday he revealed that he could not possibly get into good enough condition to be competitive in time for May 24.

"Because of the injuries I have not had sufficient time to prepare. I still may run, but if I do it it will just be a slow one down to Hamilton,'' admitted Wright.

Wright won the marathon in 1990 with a time of one hour, 13 minutes and 12 seconds. He beat off a late surge by Terrance Armstrong who followed him home in one hour, 13 minutes and 17 seconds.