Bermuda Track and Field Association will be hoping for a bumper turn-out at Astwood Park this Saturday morning as they stage the National Cross Country Championships for junior and senior runners.

While many of the events through the cross country season involved energy draining slogs, incorporating deep sandy routes, organisers for this year's championships have put together what should be a super fast course over the rolling grass covered hills of the South Shore park for the season finale.

Race director Roger Lambert said: "We originally were going to use the Arboretum but because of storm damage we moved to Astwood Park. It will be of a lap of just under a mile and should be very fast. We could have taken it through a section I call the jungle but decided to ease the runners up."

After a poor turnout for last weekend's cross country race at Fort Scaur, which saw only two senior men complete the event, Lambert hopes the men's field for this Saturday will include the squad of top men who have been training with national coach Gerry Swan in preparation for this year's CAC Cross Country Championships.

Lambert added: "We have asked the guys who have been training with the squad to turn up, so hopefully they will be there."

The Island's premier runner Kavin Smith (pictured) is part of that squad, and after finishing second to Jay Donawa in last year's championship will surely be looking to reverse that position and continue his excellent form so far this year which has seen him break the record for the Labour Day Road Race and his own record for the half marathon when he competed in the World Half Marathon Championships in Bristol, England last month.

Tracy Wright, Jamal Hart, Mark Albouy and Mitchell DeShields make up the rest of the squad and if they are all on the start line, Saturday could provide some exciting racing.

In the women's field, Anna Eatherley has confirmed she will be running and is looking to secure an unprecedented fourth title in a row.

With Lynn Patchett passing up the event due to final preparations for the upcoming New York Marathon, Eatherley is unlikely to be under any pressure as she solidifies her position as the Island's most dominant female runner.

The junior events, which had over 30 entries at Fort Scaur, are expected to produce another strong field. In the under 20 category, Lambert believes there is the possibility of some strong performances with Mark Morrison the favourite.

"Mark is running very well, but I think Henry Talbot and Chayce Smith will both be up there."

The action gets underway at 9.00 a.m. for the juniors and 9.30 a.m. for the seniors and entries will be accepted on the day. Pre-registered runners can collect their numbers from the BTFA offices between 5-30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday.