Lamont Marshall is looking to comprehensively beat his KMPG Invitational Front Street Mile time from a year ago when he lines up next week for a second assault on the blue ribbon event.During the past few months the Devonshire athlete has produced some of his fastest road race times, including a new national record for a point-to-point 8K when he ran a dazzling 24 minutes and 45 seconds in Richmond, Virginia, last November.Now he has his eyes set on eclipsing the 4.23 he ran in last year's elite mile on Front Street. He and fellow Bermudian Chayce Smith will carry the hopes of the Island on January 14 in the Bermuda Marathon Weekend's showcase opener.The 26-year-old has had ‘some fantastic training sessions' lately, according to his father and coach Larry Marshall Sr.“He is really in shape he's in the best shape of his life. In training he is well above where he was last year,” he said.Amongst his other achievements Marshall has broken 15 minutes for 5K twice in the past year.“He is looking forward to being in the mix with the elite milers. We appreciate the opportunity the race committee have given him by inviting him to race again.”As of yesterday, Marshall and his father were still undecided on whether he should compete in this weekend's Fairmont-to-Fairmont 7.2 mile road race.In 2010 he did compete but then went into the Front Street Mile having picked up a cold, possibly due to running in rain and wind during the Fairmont event. Marshall Sr would like his son to take part, particularly as he would once again be pitted against three-time champion Chris Estwanik.“It is always a quality race. We will make the decision in the next 24 hours. He has got a couple of good workouts to do,” he said.However, whatever the decision, the elite mile in eight days' time is the primary goal.“We are looking for a considerable improvement in terms of his time and on getting on the podium. That is his objective this year. His personal aspiration is to make a considerable improvement on his time, and run maybe 4.10 or 4.12,” said Marshall Sr.Last year Marshall missed the Fifth Avenue Mile in New York, however in 2009 he ran a lifetime best of 4.10.With the inclusion of Chayce Smith, 23, in the Front Street Mile elite race line-up, residents will have two Bermudians to cheer in the big event. Smith has been granted a spot having clocked the fastest time in the local men's trial races in December. In far from ideal conditions he blasted around the track at the National Sports Centre to record a time of 4.27.Marshall Sr said he was glad to see another homegrown talent being given the opportunity to challenge the elite runners from overseas.“If you want to develop local talent you have to give them the opportunities. It's what they do in Europe. And even if you come last, you get the experience of competing at that level,” he said.“Chayce has done well. He ran a 4.16 at college.”In an interview with The Royal Gazette last month, Smith said he would be aiming to win whichever race he competes in. He said: “I expect to win every race I compete in. The last couple times I have heard about the elite guys running 4.14 to 4.16 and I was running these times while in college, so I'm looking forward to running in this year's event.”