A new men’s champion will be crowned in the Tokio Millennium Re Triathlon in Hamilton tomorrow.Last year’s winner Evan Naude has opted not to defend his title because of personal commitments.The likes of Jonathan Herring, Mark Wilcox and Neil de St Croix are among the favourites to claim the vacant title.Herring finished runner-up behind Naude in last year’s event followed by Wilcox in third.Naude captured his maiden Tokio title in a time of one hour, two minutes and 54 seconds.Gunning for a second straight women’s title this year is Kristyn Tobey-Robinson. Also expected to be in the hunt for top honours among the women’s field is Joanna Shillington and Laurie Orchard.Last year saw Tobey-Robinson claim female honours in one hour, 11 minutes and 57 seconds. Cora Lee Starzomski and Ashley Kirkpatrick rounded off the top three in the women’s field.Nearly 300 competitors have registered for tomorrow’s event which also features team racing.The senior individual, junior advanced, and team races will start at 9.45am with a 750 metre swim, 20k bike and 5k run. There will be a ‘Try-a-Tri’ for novices at 8.45am over a shorter 300m swim, 8k bike and 2k run.The Individual Junior Racing Bike Duathlon will be competed for over four age groups: Boys and Girls aged 7 to 8 (1k run, 4k bike, 1k run), Boys and Girls aged 9 to 10 (1k run, 4k bike, 1k run), Boy and Girls aged 11 to 12 (12k run, 8k bike, 2k run), and Boys and Girls aged 13 to 14 (2k run, 8k bike, 2k run. Start time for all juniors in the duathlon is 8.00am.The Junior Mountain Bike Duathlon will have three age categories: Boys and Girls aged 7 to 9 (1k run, 4k bike, 1k run), Boys and Girls aged 10 to 11 (1k run, 4k bike, 1k run), and Boys and Girls aged 12 to 14 (1k run, 4k bike, 1k run).Six local schools will also do battle in the inaugural Senior Schools Challenge on a course comprising a 200m swim, 8km bike and 2km run.