Some tightly fought races are in prospect this evening in both the local men's and women's KPMG Front Street Mile races.

Island residents had to take part in qualifying time trials to secure a place in the local athlete races, which are restricted to 20 runners in the men's race and 20 in the women's.

Amongst the men Evan Naude was the fastest qualifier by 16 seconds. He ran a time of 4.35. Naude has had a highly successful year, both in road races and triathlon. He won the 2009 Bank of Bermuda Triathlon and was eighth in the Bournemouth International Triathlon in England.

Roadrunner Gary Rayner has made a return to competition this year and was third in the Bacardi 8K and was the only runner other than Naude to break five minutes in the time trials. Also keep an eye on Stephen Allen, who finished second last year.

In the women's race three of last year's top five are returning to do battle and they are the fastest in the field on qualifying times. Commonwealth Games finalist and new mum Ashley Estwanik is back to competitive running and was a fraction of a second quicker than last year's winner Jennifer Alen in the time trials. Estwanik ran a time of 5.29.

Two years ago she stormed to a time of 4.55 to beat Alen.

The duel between this pair should be a closer run thing this year with Alen posting some useful times, including a personal best of 5.13 in New York's Fifth Avenue Mile in September.