New men’s and women’s champions will be crowned in the Ed Sherlock 8K tomorrow as last year’s winners Sean Trott and Gayle Lindsay are not returning to defend their titles.

Trott has ruled himself out as he continues to recover from illness.

“I won’t be racing this Sunday,” he told The Royal Gazette.

“I’ve just come off a recent bout of illness and will look to gain back a bit more strength before racing again.”

Trott led the field across the line in 27min 59sec, nearly two minutes quicker than his nearest rival, Christopher Harris, in last year’s loop around South Shore and Middle Road.

Lindsay is not participating as she no longer resides on island.

She also cut a lonely figure on her way around the course last year as she finished nearly three minutes ahead of runner-up Teresa Ruiz with a time of 30min 41sec.

Some of the island’s top runners are again expected to battle for honours in tomorrow’s race which celebrates local legend Ed Sherlock, who won six Bermuda Half Marathon Derby titles between 1956 and 1962 — including five on the trot.

The event is the first in the four-race Swan’s Running Club Legends Series, which also honours local running legends Ray Swan, Ludwig Cann and Stanley Burgess.

Participants will earn points for their placement in each race, with the top male and female who have accrued the highest points in the best three of four races being crowned the Legends champion.

Double points will be awarded to all participants in the final race of the series.

In the event of a tie, the tie-breaker is determined by the fastest recorded time in the first event where both individuals participated.

In addition to the Legends Race Series trophy, the men’s and women’s champions will pocket $1,000 in prize money.

Overall winners are not eligible for age group awards.

It is mandatory for athletes within the Legends Series to participate in no fewer than three of the four races.

David Lunn and Lindsay were crowned men’s and women’s Legends champions last year.

A new women’s Legends champion will also be crowned this year in the absence of Lindsay.