Which is why, when the men line up for tonight's Front Street Mile, the veteran Island runner may have a little more motivation than usual.

Last month Watson was blown away by newcomer David Dunwoody in time trials for the eighth annual race. Last weekend, he finished tied for fourth with Jamal Hart in the national cross country championships at Hog Bay Park -- a race in which the two did everything but tackle one another in the sprint towards the finish.

So guess who will be beside Watson for tonight's open men's race, expected to start shortly after 8.30 p.m.? Hart is the two-time defending champion among local men in the Front Street Mile, winning last year in four minutes, 37.4 seconds. Dunwoody, a native of Northern Ireland who's been on the Island less than a year, merely clocked a 4:26.7 in capturing the trials at National Stadium.

Had that been a month later, Dunwoody would have shattered the International Race Weekend local record of 4:33.2, set by Tyler Hall. It's tough to compare, however, because the tight Front Street course has been known to add several seconds to personal bests.

The competitive Watson didn't run last year but has won just about everything else in his career. When you throw Sheldon Thompson -- second a year ago -- into the mix, you have the makings of a dramatic evening.

Like Watson, Karen Adams is also a veteran of the Island running wars and is usually a favourite in every race she enters. But this year's Front Street Mile is different because of the return of Jennifer Fisher.

Fisher, 36, is coming off a busy year that saw her compete in numerous Masters races during the summer -- setting a world steeplechase record in one -- and the NCAA cross country championships.

And, oh yes, she just happened to win last year's Front Street challenge in an unchallenged 5:19.4. As for Adams, she skipped last year but holds the event record for women with a 5:02.6, set in 1993.

One record that almost certainly won't fall is the 4:27 posted by Michael Donawa -- and that was for secondary schoolboys. Aaron Williams of Barclay and Jeremiah Smith of Warwick figure to nonetheless come closest during this year's event.

The secondary schoolgirls race is shaping up to be a battle between Jarita Dill, Jennifer Young, Janine Scott and defending champion Patrina Swan.

The primary schoolgirls record, however, is the goal of promising youngster Jaynae Dillas, the defending champion who clocked 5:50 in the trials (Velvet Smith owns the record of 5:58). She will be pushed by Tiffany Eatherley, who took the cross country title a week ago. Henry Talbot and cross country champ Lawson Williams will carry on their rivalry for the primary schoolboys title.