In the absence of two-time previous winner Kenny Wilson (Moray Road Runners), who is making his Scotland debut in Leeds, Donnie MacDonald (Inverness Harriers) looks to be among the favourites to win the Brodie Castle 10km on Sunday.
A capacity field of 450 runners will take part in the third edition of the Forres Harriers-organised race which can trace its roots back to the 1950’s when it was held over a course between Alves and Forres.
MacDonald has been in fine form lately, winning the Aviemore and Culloden 10km races, the latter in a course record time of 32min 16secs.
His opponents include James Wilson (Moray Road Runners) and veteran Stan MacKenzie (Inverness Harriers).
Sarah Liebnitz isn’t defending the women’s title but her Inverness Harriers clubmate Gemma Cormack should be among the leading contenders to take top spot.
Cormack won the Golspie 10km in September and recorded the fastest time of the day at the Scottish North District cross country relay championships at Edderton last month.
Her rivals will include Louise Cartmell, who finished third last year and was also in fine form at Edderton, leading Moray Road Runners to the women’s team title.
Others expected to be in the hunt for the top prizes include Carolyn Milne (Garioch Road Runners) and teenager Emily Andrew (Inverness Harriers).
Gordon Lennox (Inverness Harriers) is expected to go for a fourth win in a row when the Scottish North District hill running championships take place at Knockfarrel, Strathpeffer tomorrow while Highland Hill Runners bid to complete a hat-trick of victories in the men’s team competition.
Great Britain junior international Anna Macfadyen (Forres Harriers) has won the women’s race for the past two years but is not defending.
Macfadyen’s absence could weaken Forres Harriers’ hopes of holding on to the women’s team title.
Robbie Simpson (Deeside Runners) bids to win the second race in the Metro Aberdeen Winter Proms 3km series which takes place today (1pm).
The Banchory athlete, who was selected to represent Great Britain in the marathon at this summer’s world athletics championships in London, but had to withdraw because of injury, won the opening Proms race last month when he was only seven seconds outside the course record of 8:37secs.
Petra Hampton (Metro Aberdeen) leads the women’s series after finishing five seconds ahead of Jennifer Robertson (Peterhead AC) in the opening round.