Bermuda’s finest road runners are going head-to-head in the RenaissanceRe 10-Mile Challenge on Sunday morning.

With Chris Estwanik, the race winner in 54min 56sec last year, not entering, the race to the finish line at the Botanical Gardens is wide open. Sean Trott, Jake Brislane, Tom Mills and David Lunn are some of the favourites to win.

Christine Dailey, Teresa Ruiz and Kristen Robinson are the runners to watch out for in the women. Stepanka Sprincova has left the three to battle it out in the longer distance, as she has opted to run five miles.

Trott, the 2023 champion and runner-up a year ago, makes a return to racing after winning the Ed Sherlock 8K on February 8. With an eye on improving his third-place finish in the Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby next month, the 35-year-old is conserving his energy for the biggest race on the island.

“The plan is always to go for the win,” Trott told The Royal Gazette.

“Last year, I ran 55:20, so the strategy will be to try and get a better time this time around.

“With Chris not running, it definitely increases my chances of winning. But I’m not counting out anybody showing up on the day, or in better shape than me.

“My plan this year is to race less. Looking at my season as a whole last year, I was fatigued by the time I got to May 24, that’s why I'm not racing as much.

“I’m just focusing on training rather than frequently racing. After this race, the next one for me is May 24.”

Brislane won the Ludwig Cann 10K last weekend in what was his first race on the island in over a year. The 19-year-old is geared to go up against some of the best runners in Bermuda.

“I’d like to be up there challenging for the win, but I know guys like Sean Trott and Tom Mills are very strong at these longer distances,” the University of Warwick student said.

“They’re also more used to the conditions than me so I think it will be tough but a great race. ‎

“Since track season is almost starting for me, my training has been more general focusing towards that.

“But I really enjoy taking part in races in Bermuda, so I thought I’d give the longer distance a go. It will be tough especially since I’m not used to the heat, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Dailey, who finished the race last year eleventh overall in 1:05:26, makes a return after becoming the first female across the finish line in the Lindo's to Lindo's 10K on March 9.

“I’m just trying to get as much mileage in,” the 37-year-old said. “I’ve no huge expectations at all for this race.”

While Mills skipped the Ludwig Cann to preserve himself for Sunday, he has indicated that he will be content with a podium position.

“It all depends on who’s running, but hopefully, I finish close to the top three,’’ he said.

“I’m not in as good shape as Sean Trott, and I’m not sure who else is running. So top three on that basis would be good for me.”