Jet-setting James Thie will be hoping his flights are on time as he bids to reclaim his senior men's title at the Bristol Road Mile around College Green tomorrow.

The 31-year-old Clevedon-born international may be in the final straight of his career and now juggling the full-time demands as competitions manager of Welsh Athletics, but he is a fierce competitor and on the tight five-lap circuit will be a hard man to beat.

But he needs to make the start line first, so Thie, who boasts a lifetime best time of 3mins 57.71secs for the mile on the indoor circuit, will be hoping his early morning flight from Zurich to London is on time and the M4 is clear for the coach transfer to the city.

"I'm racing the Jaungfrau International Road Mile in Interlaken, in the Swiss mountains, on Friday and then flying back to Bristol on Saturday morning," said Thie, who was beaten by Chris Moss in last year's Bristol race.

"Hopefully I will make it in time as I really like the event."

Bristol & West AC's Katie Knowles will start as favourite for the women's race and Yate & District AC's Emily Fitzhugh is entered for the Under-17 women's event along with Bristol & West AC's Naomi Speake, who is on the comeback trail after injury.

The Under-15 boys race should be a keenly contested event with Zac Tobias, Cameron Coetzee and Luke Jacob all entered, while the Under-17 men's race should also be interesting with Sam Bedwell, Adam Speake and Westbury Harriers' Tyrone James all entered.

Entries will be taken on the day – 45 minutes before each race – but call Hilary Nash in advance on 0117 9861244 to check entries.

Former Olympian Nick Rose will be presenting the prizes.

Timetable – one mile – 1.15: U20/17 women. 1.25: U20/17 men. 1.35: U15 girls. 1.45: U15 boys. 1.55: U11 girls. 2.05: U11 boys. 2.50: Senior women elite (including veterans). 3.00: Senior men elite (including veterans). Street sprints – 2.35: heats. 3.10: Finals.

Bristol & West AC Olympic 10,000m runner Kate Reed has opted to continue her comeback at the BUPA Great Yorkshire Run 10k road race in Sheffield and will be hoping to build upon the 33mins 26secs she ran to finish top woman in the Great North 10k in July.

Bristol & West AC's Jon Wills, Phil Wylie, Dan Woolford and Nathan Young are giving Bristol a miss in order to run the Cardiff 10k on the same day.

Yate & District AC will be holding a Sprints and Hurdles Challenge at the Yate Outdoor Sports Complex on Sunday (1pm).

The event will comprise sprints from 100m to 400m and the 70m, 75m, 80m, 100m, 110m, 300m and 400m hurdles and races will be seeded on season's best times.

For further details about the event contact Graham Howell either by phone on 01454 261458 or email him at GraTimHow@aol.com. Bristol & West with Mendip AC send a team to Yeovil for the final South West League match on Sunday.