Jordan Chipangama will go in search of the first of three Bermuda Marathon Weekend titles he is chasing in tonight’s KPMG Bermuda Invitational Mile.

The Zambian is attempting to become only the second runner to win the elite mile, 10K and half-marathon events and is confident he can achieve his objective.

“I’ve always hoped to one day win all three races and I felt this time around I wanted to try that challenge,” Chipangama said. “I’ve won the 10K and half but failed to win the mile, and so I’m hoping tomorrow it will be a different day.

“I’m not in the best shape of my life, but I think I’ve done quite enough workouts that I feel confident coming in. I feel great and happy to be back again and looking forward to this weekend.”

Shadrack Biwot, of Kenya, is the only runner to win the elite mile, 10K and half-marathon the same year, having achieved the impressive treble in 2010.

Among those standing between Chipangama and a maiden elite mile crown is David Bishop, of Scotland, who is back to defend his title.

“The field is quite steep but it will come down to who has it,” Chipangama said. “Honestly, I usually don’t get too much into thinking about who’s in, but just about how I’m feeling.

“I’m also not concerned about the conditions because we are all going to be running in the same conditions, so no matter what, we all got to face it.”

Chipangama is a three-times Bermuda Marathon Weekend champion having won the 10K event in 2014, and back-to-back half-marathon titles in 2013 and 2014. He also holds the half-marathon race record which stands at 1hr 4min 21sec, which he achieved in 2014.

Meanwhile, Heather Kampf will put the first of three Bermuda Marathon Weekend titles she captured last year on the line in tonight’s women’s elite mile.

The American is gunning for a fourth straight title and is confident she can achieve her mission among a field which includes Kenia Sinclair, the Jamaican race record holder, who is making her first appearance in the event in five years.

“Doing four would be incredible,” Kampf said. “I know that Kenia Sinclair is in the race and she has won three times before, as have I now for the mile, and so it would be kind of cool if I can get that fourth just to have a little more history here.”

Kampf is using the Bermuda Marathon Weekend as a gauge as she steps up her bid to qualify for this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio.

“This will be my first race of the year, so it’s a good chance to test my fitness so I will know what I need to work on as I approach Olympic trials this summer,” she said.

As well as her women’s elite mile crown, Kampf, who celebrates her 29th birthday next week, is also the defending women’s champion in the 10K and half-marathon.

The American enjoys competing here and is looking forward to the experience again this year.

“I love it,” she said. “It’s unfortunately a really well kept secret. I really wish more people knew about it because I know plenty of people who would be on board for the weekend and the races are just so awesome.

“It was a fun time for me last year to be able to see more of the Island just through the course, and it is incredible the support you get every step of the way.”