English runner Neil Speaight will be gunning for a hat-trick of Front Street Mile titles when the reigning champion defends his crown tonight.

Speaight, who won the annual race in 2007 and 2009, will looking to beat off top challengers Shadrack Biwot, of Kenya, American's Sean Brosnan and Steve Slattery, Ethiopia's Abiyot Endale and two-time winner, and close friend, James Thie.

No runner has ever won the title three times.

"Both me and James have local knowledge and I think that could be a big factor," said Speaight, who will also run tomorrow's 10K.

"We have both won the race on two occasions so we are both going for our third title which makes the race interesting.

"I am very confident I can defend my title, although I do not know what to expect from the Ethiopian runners. Steve Slattery also has calibre and is another real challenger."

The leggy Englishman said he was disappointed top local Chris Estwanik had decided against running this year's mile opting to build towards future overseas marathon races instead, but believed Bermuda's Lamont Marshall would more than fill the void.

"It is a shame Chris Estwanik is not running as last year was the best atmosphere I have ever experienced in a Front Street Mile," said the 800 metre specialist.

"But Lamont Marshall will be competing and I imagine all the spectators will really get behind him. I think it is really important there is a local guy in the race."

At 31, Speaight concedes he is approaching the twilight years of his career but hopes victory tonight will be the perfect preparation for his upcoming indoor season.

"The Front Street Mile has long been a curtain raiser for my indoor season," he said. "I won last year's race and then had a very good indoor season and hopefully that will be the case this year as well."

Last year Speaight, a Commonwealth Games and World Indoor Championships veteran, finished with a time of 4 minutes 19 seconds to regain the title he surrendered in 2008 to Puerto Rico's David Freeman.

His dissatisfying 2008 performance was understandable, as he had only three months earlier undergone surgery after a tumour was discovered on one of his lungs.

It turned out to be benign with Speaight later admitting the ordeal had left him enjoying his running more than ever before.

Bermuda's Lamont Marshall will be making his debut appearance in the top tier elite race.

Marshall's father, Larry Snr. said he and his son had been busy working on race tactics and scenarios.

"You never know what the other runners' tactics will be but we have been working on a few race scenarios and hopefully one plays out for us.

"Lamont wants to do well for Bermuda and he is grateful to the race organisers for inviting him to take part in the elite mile.

"Obviously he will be up against quality runners but hopefully he will be in the mix."

In the elite women's mile Kenia Sinclair, of Jamaica, will defend her title against the likes of compatriot Korene Hinds, last year's runner-up Aziza Aliya from Ethiopia and World Cross Country Championship athlete Belaynesh Zemedkun, also of Ethiopia.

Tonight's proceedings will start with the Front Street Mile's first ever wheelchair race which will see Bermudians Paul Alves and Jessica Lewis take on three overseas competitors.