trigger signalling the start of the Bank of Butterfield Elite Mile tonight on Front Street (7.30 p.m.).

Second to American Joe Falcon last year in a time of four minutes, seven seconds, Bartoszak improved to 3:47.26 for the distance at a race in Tulsa, Oklahoma, beating Falcon into third.

Also feeling the weight of the Pole in that race were Doug Sersun, Todd Lewis and David Kunselman, all of the United States and each involved in tonight's main attraction.

"Obviously his personal record is pretty good so he'll be one to watch,'' said Briton Paul Freary, the son of former British 10,000 metres record-holder Mike Freary and winner of last Sunday's Princess to Princess race. "But you have to watch all of the guys. They're not going to come all this way to just jog along.

"A lot of people are talking about the bends and the wind but it's just a matter of going out and racing.

"I'll be pleased with a time that'll let me finish the race a half-second faster than anyone else.'' It looks as if Canadian Dave Reid and Todd Lewis of the US may offer the stiffest challenge to Bartoszak, both having previously cracked the four-minute barrier. Reid is in his second visit to the Island after finishing seventh behind Cram in the 1991 race, while Lewis makes his debut.

Another capable of springing an upset if ignored is Russian Farrid Khayrulin.

Freary indicated that the whole field could run around 3:50 although some of the world's best -- Falcon and Steve Cram -- have failed to come close to that since the race's inception four years ago.

Much though will depend on the weather. Tricky cross winds along Front Street often play a part in the outcome and the early forecast for tonight predicts five to 10 knot winds and a slight chance of rain.

The US will be well represented with six competitors, as track men Greg Whitely and Matt Kendall, master Charlie McMullen and 1991-92 competitor Mike Patton join the aforementioned trio.

Sersun, with a personal best of 4:04.1, is one of those here for the first time and while he does not expect to win he said that he will be going all out to entertain and gain much needed exposure, which could well come with the event being recorded by cable giants ESPN.

"My chances of winning are very small,'' said Sersun. "I'm probably fifth or sixth best on paper and it would be a bit of a triumph to place in the top three.'' As a second-year man in the US Air Force, the 23-year-old is quite familiar with speed. He works as a research and development scientist dealing with lasers and added that the Air Force has been very supportive in allowing him to train and run in these type of races.

With regards coming to Bermuda as opposed to elsewhere he said that it was "a perfect match for him'', especially this early in the season.

"Hey! January in Bermuda! They (race organisers) didn't have to spend too much time selling me on this!'' Kunselman, meanwhile, figures the race may be won on the turns. He went over the course twice yesterday and stated that it would be a matter of getting good position to negotiate the bends and being able to accelerate out of them.

"It's certainly going to be tough with Mr. Bartoszak out there,'' said Kunselman, who was an 800 metres specialist up until a year ago. "He's run the course before and has that as experience.

"Although I ran my best time in the Cherry Street Mile (4:01.99) I'm considering Bermuda as a stepping stone and hope that this will be my career highlight.'' There is mystery over the entry of Moroccan runner Rachid Thabi. Not much is known about Thabi, who was confirmed late yesterday.

ADT Bermuda 10-K champion Marcos Barreto will be available at Bike World, his sponsors, on Reid Street from noon to 1.30 p.m. for autograph signing.

FLASHBACK -- Michael Bartoszak will be attempting tonight to break the record of 1992 winner Joe Falcon, above finishing in 4:04.16, and also go under the four-minute mark for $10,000 in bonus money.