A class field of Bermuda's top female runners will be vying for victory in the 10th annual PartnerRe Women's 5K next Sunday - but contrary to yesterday's report in this paper leading triathlete Flora Duffy will not be in the field.

Duffy will instead be attending a wedding in the UK.

However, Labour Day Race champ Victoria Fiddick, triathlon sisters Kim and Deeana McMullen, veteran winner Anna Eatherley, plus top road-racing contenders Kelly Larrett and Rosa Peichoto have all indicated they plan to be on the start line on October 14.

The dark horse may be Front Street Miler Ashley Couper, who smashed the course record last year in a time of 18:26. She has been struggling with a calf injury this fall since leaving the US to return home to live in Bermuda in August.

"I'd love to defend my title, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed," said the 29-year-old middle-distance specialist. "I took a lot of time off in Europe this summer, and I may have done too much when I returned to running. But I'm hopeful. It's always such a great race. Everyone comes out to it — it is really awesome."

This year's event starts at 8.30 a.m. from the Botanical Gardens with a junior girls' 3K race, followed by a 5K run and walk at 9 a.m. A corporate trophy goes to the company with the most employees finishing, while the school with the most participants wins a $500 cash gift, dedicated to sports programmes and equipment.

Entry forms are available at Sportseller, or online via www.partnerre5k.bm. Deadline for entries is next Wednesday, October 10, at 4.30 p.m. Late registration will take place the day before the race, Saturday, October 13, at the Jack King (Poultry) Building in the Botanical Gardens, where entrants can collect their numbers. Gift bags and T-shirts will go to the first 1,000 registrants.

If Couper does not compete, first-place honours will be hotly contested by Fiddick, Eatherley and the McMullens.

Eatherley, a five-time winner of the event, returned to top road-racing form last year after injuries, claiming second place in a time of 19:34. Fiddick, third last year, won last month's Labour Day five-miler and recently completed a sub-19-minute 5K in her native Sweden.

The race typically sees a high turnout of the Island's top female runners, many of whom claim age-group prizes. Presented by Mid-Atlantic Athletic Club (MAAC) with title sponsor PartnerRe Ltd., the event includes a competitive walk and a fun walk for women, as well as a 3.2K race for under-16 girls.

The event has raised more than $120,000 for women's charities since 1998, supporting initiatives to battle breast cancer, heart disease, physical abuse and other female-related causes in Bermuda.

This year all proceeds will go to help the Bermuda Cancer & Health Centre purchase new digital mammography screening equipment.