Northland's top secondary school runners will need to lift their game to achieve a podium finish in the Rod Dixon Miles at Otamatea High School.
Saturday's event is organised by the school and Athletics Whangarei and has caught the attention of top Auckland coaches, who have encouraged their in-form speedsters to
enter.
"It's building on links we've had in the past and tapping into a resurgence of coaching expertise," prominent Northland coach Ian Babe said.
In the girls' mile, New Zealand representatives Margot Gibson, from St Margaret's College in Christchurch, and Diocesan's Georgie Grgec will take the mile in their stride as they prepare for the Secondary Schools' World Cross-Country Championships in Slovakia next April.
But Rangitoto College's Hayley Williams and the Northland duo of Melissa Simpson and Tayla Going will be looking for a chance to show their form.
Boys' defending champion Tadele Tekle Haimanot from Mt Roskill Grammar, will face a tough challenge from Rangitoto's Cameron Graves, a New Zealand and Auckland 3000m record holder.
Graves' schoolmates Josh Tattley, who has a 1m 55s 800m time to his credit, and Nelson Smith, another accomplished 800m runner, will be battling for honours too. Westlake Boys' Zak Hawkins is another likely to be in the mix.
Northland's best will have their work cut out to stay with the pace, with Dargaville High's Hamish Younger, Ryan Slater (Correspondence School) and Whangarei Boys' High's Dylan French leading the charge.
Rod Dixon will sign certificates for all the finishers.
The Miles start at 3.30pm on Saturday, at Otamatea High, Bickerstaffe Road, Maungaturoto.
Entries will be accepted up to 3pm on the day.
