With International Race Weekend over, road running shifts its focus to the youngsters this week as KPMG launch another of their annual junior running series.

The first of five events, each with three separate age groups for boys and girls, takes place this Sunday at the Botanical Gardens, starting at 9 a.m.

Competitors between the ages of eight and 12 will race over two miles and those between 13 and 15 over a six kilometre course.

Entries for the series were still being received this week and with a number of last year's winners moving into a new age bracket, several new champions should be crowned.

In the girls eight to 10 division, 2001 winner Danlia Martin switches to the 11-12 age group, which could open the door for Charlene Grant, runner-up last year and a third place finisher in the girls' under-12 Front Street Mile last Friday.

Among the eight to 10 boys group, Dorian Armstrong, third last year, is tops among those staying in that division.

However, should Front street Mile winners Dinae Lightbourne, who smashed the under-12 girls record last Friday, and Tre Simons, both enter the series this year, the youngest age group could take on a different complexion. Neither Lightbourne nor Simons have competed in the past.

In the 11-12 division, both of last year's winners, Shelicia McKenzie and Kor-von Tucker are still young enough to compete again, and are expected to be tough to beat.

Flora Duffy will be aiming for a fourth successive title in the series when she competes in the 13-15 girls, but is still trying to shrug off a nagging injury.

Among the 13-15 boys, last year's top three, Taijuan Talbot, Coyatito Smith and Chase Smith, are still only 13 and as such this year's winner should come from that trio with Dominique Nanette being an outside threat.

After this Sunday's races, the next event in the series will be the Butterfield and Vallis 3K and 5K races on Sunday, February 3, followed by the Round the Town Race on Sunday, February 10, the MRM one and a half mile and five mile races on Sunday, March 3, and a track meet with 1,500 and 3,000 metre races on Saturday, March 16.

Entries close this Friday and forms can be picked up from the Pro Shop, Sportseller, Sports R Us or Winners Edge.