Having conquered Bermuda, Ashley Estwanik is setting her sights slightly higher for her next race.

The Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby record holder is aiming to qualify for the World Half-Marathon Championships in China later this year.

Bermuda Track and Field Association have already approached Estwanik about representing the Island at the Nanning event on October 16, if she can meet the association's qualifying standard of a sub one hour, 19 minutes time.

BTFA would also send a male runner if an athlete can meet the sub 1.09:00 time set for men.

While husband Chris would cruise into the team, the BTFA are limiting the invitation to Bermudians, meaning that Ashley Estwanik, Lamont Marshall and Tyler Butterfield are the only local athletes with a realistic chance of making the grade.

All three, however, are some way off making the qualifying times. Estwanik would need to knock almost three minutes off her record time of 1:21.58 to qualify, while Marshall (1:12.24) and Butterfield (1:11.01) also have significant ground to make up.

Estwanik, though, has already said she believes she could go below one hour 20 minutes on a course that doesn't have the difficulties associated with the Bermuda Day race, specifically the wind, the humidity and the hilly nature of the route.

"I actually have been approached by Bob Oliver (BTFA Treasurer). He and I were just discussing local records and he mentioned it in an e-mail about a week before May 24," said Estwanik. "He said the qualifying time had to be under 1:19. I obviously didn't do that on the day but Chris and I have been talking about trying to get off the Island to run a fast course anyway.

"We thought after May 24 we'd be done but while we were both very happy with our performances, we also feel like there is more in the tank. So we'd like to see how fast we could go, and you never know when the next time you're going to be in this kind of shape, and not injured.

"You can't really say 'oh, we'll do it next year', because you never know what's going to happen."

In order to qualify for the Worlds, however, Estwanik would have to travel to the US to find a half-marathon in which to compete and that comes with its own complications.

"It's (the Worlds) in the back of my mind," she said, "but it's a little bit inconvenient because, first of all I have (new daughter) Summers and I'm not going to be taking her to China, and secondly I go back to work in September, and as a teacher you can't just take off whenever you want.

"So the first step is to find another half-marathon somewhere else and see how that goes, and then I guess I'll cross that bridge (work) when I get there. I think BHS would probably be very proud to have one of their teachers representing Bermuda but there are other things to consider. It would be great to do if the opportunity presented itself.

"Timing is an issue at the moment and then there are other things. A lot of them (the races) are not fast, they are on hilly courses and then either they are hot or fall at the wrong time because I have to get my classroom ready for the new school year.

"We're still talking about it. There is one at the end of the summer in Ohio where Chris' parents live, that's a possibility and it's supposed to be pretty fast. It's just a case of whether we want to train through the summer heat to still do that. So we'll see.

"I'd be really excited to do it, if it works out, but I don't want to get my hopes up if it's not going to be feasible."