Multiple Bermuda International Race Weekend champions El Afoui Boubker of Morocco and Russia?s Silvia Skvortsova can both expect some stiff competition when they defend their respective men?s and women?s titles at next month?s annual road running festival.

While the popular event, a permanent fixture on the local sporting calendar for close to 30 years, has seen some radical changes in organisation this year with the appointment of new race directors for the Mile, International 10K, Half-Marathon and Marathon, the races themselves will also welcome a number of new faces.

And as a result, defending marathon champion and five-time winner Boubker, and Skvortsova, who cruised to female honours in both the 10K and Half-Marathon last year, will likely need to find their best form in order to retain their crowns.

In the Marathon, slated for Sunday, January 14, Boubker who romped home last year in 2:23:59, will be up against three top runners who weren?t among his rivals in that race ? Russia?s Eduard Tukhbatullin, Kenya?s Fred Gatange and Edward Gapak from the Ukraine.

Tukhbatullin has a personal best of 2:12:07 for the 26.2 mile distance and in three marathons this year has clocked a best of 2:19, making him a serious contender to end Boubker?s reign.

Little is known about Kenya?s Gatange, although he lists his marathon best as a fast 2:13 while 22-year-old Gapak, who clocked a highly impressive 2:29 at the New York Marathon when only 19, will also be considered a major threat.

Defending women?s marathon champion Svetlana Baigulova, meanwhile, could also be tested over the two-loop course.

She came home last year under difficult conditions in 2:47:34 to claim third place overall, just ahead of American Mary Akor and her Russian compatriot Marina Bychkova, neither of whom are returning next month.

But among the field will be this year?s female Russian marathon champion Sarmasova Vinera who won that race in 2:39:22.

Also in the field will be last year?s fourth-placed Bermuda finisher, Victoria Ganushina, who improved her personal best by over eight minutes at November?s New York Marathon when she ran 2:42.

Also looking to challenge Baigulova will be American Stephanie Hodge who placed second in Bermuda in 2004 and 2005, clocking 2:54:10 in her last appearance on the Island, and Ukrainian Svetlana Revyakina who in November finished in 2:45:24 at the Istanbul Marathon in Turkey.

As for Skvortsova, ranked ninth in the world in the half-marathon in 2006, she coasted home over the 13.1 mile route last January in 1:18:19 to win by over a minute, a day earlier having won the 10K by a similar margin in a time of 34:51.

Next month she?ll be a hot favourite to retain her half-marathon crown with no other female international runners so far signed up to compete, but it could be a completely different story in the 10K.

Among those gunning for her crown will be American Katie McGregor who boasts a personal best of 31:21.2 set at the 2005 World Championships. She also clocked an impressive 2:32 at this year?s New York Marathon.

Morocco?s Kenza Wabi will be back, having placed third in the 10K last year in 37:26 while another familiar face will be that of Olena Plastinina of the Ukraine, a two-time winner of the Bermuda Marathon and former record holder.

She won the Masters division at the New York Marathon in 2005 but in Bermuda will be concentrating on the 10K only.

Victoria Jackson of the US was this year?s NCAA 10K champion with a time of 32:54 which should put her among the favourites while another American, Lisa Pratt, should also be among the frontrunners, having run 34:03 this year.

In what promises to be fiercely contested women?s 10K, Russia?s Tatyana Chulakh could also challenge for first place. Earlier this month she showed she?s in top shape by winning the Barbados 10K in a personal best of 32:36.

Last year?s Front Street Mile winner, Mexican Juan Luis Barrios Nieves, who went on to complete an unprecedented double by winning the following day?s 10K won?t be returning in January, which opens to the door to a number of overseas runners who are entered in both of the shorter races.

James Thie, a two-time winner of the Mile, will be back as will Englishman Neil Speight who placed second to Nieves in the Mile last January. Both will also run the 10K.

Third-place finisher in the Mile this year, Kenya?s Geoffrey Rono, who also placed second to Nieves in the 10K, will double up again while others who will compete in both the Friday night Front Street spectacle and the following morning?s 10K include:

Alexander Skvortsova of Russia who has a mile pb of 3:57; Guernsey?s Lee Merrien who has also dipped under four minutes (3:59); Kenya?s Jackson Langet (3:58); Colombia?s Edgar Bermudez; and Joel Williams of the US (1500 metres, 3:39).

Among those concentrating solely on the 10K will be the USA 10K track champion in 2006, Jorge Torres (pb 28:14) and American Rod Korbosi (pb 28:32).

Ukraine?s Mikola Antonenko will also line up in the 10K, having posted a fast 2:13:28 at this year?s Japan Marathon, while another to watch will be Kenya?s Joseph Ngetich who clocked 28:13 in Eldoret, Kenya this year.

Antonenko has entered the Half-Marathon and with popular defending champion Dmitry Maximov opting not to return, he should be prominent in that race also.

Other names to watch in the men?s half include Kiptoech Ruto of Kenya who owns a best time of 1:04:22; England?s David Mitchinson who finished this year?s London Marathon in 2:18:58 and clocked 48:26 over 10 miles; and Predrag Mladenovic, who this year has made a name for himself in Canada, winning several half-marathons and 10Ks in the Toronto area.

Entries for the KPMG-sponsored Race Weekend (January 12-14) are still being accepted.