Honours will be up for grabs during the Telford Electric National Cross Country Championships at Botanical Gardens today.

The Bermuda National Athletics Association sanctioned event begins at 8.30am and features athletes ranging in ages from under-ten to senior.

Those expected to be thick in the hunt for honours in the men’s and women’s open and senior divisions include the highly decorated Rose-Anna Hoey and Laurie Orchard as well as Mike Rickards and Tony Riker.

Competition will be no less exciting and intense among the various junior categories.

Jayson Simons, Jyier Barnett and Jake Brisbane are among the pre-race favourites in the under-20 boys and girls age groups. Both divisions are wide open in the absence of top contenders J’Auza James and Shayla Cann, who are unavailable through school commitments.

AJ Harkness, Khari Sharrieff, Aaron Lugo and Max Reid are among the top contenders in the under-17 boys category and Jaeda Grant, Fenella Wightman and Daria Desmond among the girls.

Cameron Adkins will rest his unbeaten streak in cross country on the line in the under-14 boys division and has his work cut out against the likes of fellow contenders Tobiah Goodchild, Luca Bortoli and Sanchez Smith. Saniya Place, Azari Jones, Aria Mosquera, Antoinette Barry, Amaris Munya and Kelise Wade are among those expected to be in the hunt for honours in the under-14 girls category.

Chavi Pacheco will be keen to extend his unbeaten streak in the under-12 boys division but is facing stiff competition from rivals Ronan Davidge, Shane Reardon and As’ad Muhammad. The under-12 girls field features Riana Robinson, Sukanya Jobson and Elena Bortoli who are all keen to savour glory.

Liam Horrobin, Adrian Myers and Matthew Hoey are challenging for the under-10 boys title and Solae Goater, Yara Muhammad and Ava Clarke-Trott among the girls field.