''There has been a complete change this year with 33 teams entered from secondary schools as well as athletic clubs.
''Local secondary schools over the years have not been strong supporters of the event, but this year it is very pleasing to receive five four-person teams from Rotorua Lakes High.
''Many of the team members were part of the Run Rotorua programme which led up to the New Zealand Secondary Schools Cross-Country Championships held mid-June at the Agrodome.''
Last year's overall winners, Pakuranga, could well retain the title, but they will not have it all their own way as Hamilton City Hawks, who have some well performed youngsters in their team, will be pushing them for the top spot.
''Not to be discounted is the local Lake City team whose lead off runner is the in-form Michael Voss,'' said Kenny.
''The master's men's section on paper looks like there will be again a strong tussle for the top grade place between Pakuranga, Hamilton City Hawks and Lake City.''
Both female sections have attracted a small number of teams, with the host club, Lake City, looking to be the top placer in the open section while the masters' section will see a tussle between Hamilton City Hawks and the top Lake City team.
In the male youth race the top places are likely to be shared between Westlake Boys' High, who have entered five teams, and Egmont Athletics.
Staunch supporters of the event, New Plymouth Girls' High and Tauranga Girls' College return, but they could be toppled by Hamilton City Hawks.
The two-person walk section raced over a 5km lap each has attracted 13 teams. On paper Egmont Athletics and Lake City look to be the top placers.
The event headquarters and the start and finish are on Long Mile Rd, adjacent to the Redwoods Visitor Centre and i-Site.
There are two distances on the programme - in the open section, each of the five team members will run a 5000m lap.
The grades in the open section are: men's, women's and masters grades, plus corporate and composite teams.
Covering a shorter lap will be four person teams made up of youth athletes aged between 11 and 19. Each team member runs a 3000m lap.
The course for all events will run in an anti-clockwise direction, entering the Redwood Memorial Grove top track at the bottom of Nursery Rd hill. At the top track/Rifle Range Rd junction they will come down Rifle Range Rd to cross the Long Mile Rd near the Tarawera Rd end.
The 5000m athletes then do a circuit in the Scion Tree Nursery area to return along the Scion fence line to the finish/start line on Long Mile Rd. Those running the 3000m lap after completing the Redwood tracks will cross Long Mile Rd at the same place as the longer distance athletes, and then turn sharp left to head back towards the start/finish line.
The event starts at 10am and will be over by around 12.30pm, with the prizegiving adjacent to the Redwoods Visitors Centre about 1pm.
Ones to watch
Top contenders for the fastest lap include:
Men's open: Isaiah Priddey (Hamilton City Hawks), Nick Pannett and Peter Wheeler (Pakuranga Athletic), and Michael Voss (Lake City Athletic Club)
Masters men Carl Read, Jonny McKee (Pakuranga Athletic), John Crane (Hamilton City Hawks)
Women's open: Kate Baxter (Egmont Athletics)
Masters women: Johanna Ottosson (Lake City)
Female youth: Charli Miller Hamilton City Hawks), Arleah Tippins (Tauranga Girls College)
Male Youth: Cort Evans, Mac Rowe (both Egmont Athletics
Walk: Rodney Gillum (Egmont Athletics)
