The Under-17 age groups look set to produce the fireworks at the Sussex Cross Country championships at Lancing Manor later today.

The event has been switched from the original venue at Crawley because of concern over the state of the Thomas Bennett School fields.

Reigning champion in the boys race, Brighton and Hove's Jack Vail, was eased out of first place in the recent Sussex League event in Stanmer Park by club mate Joe Stephenson, the reigning Sussex Schools champion who also won the opening Sussex League event at Lancing in October.

These two look destined to battle it out for the gold medal, but they must keep an eye on former Sussex Schools under-15 champion Ben Warren, from Hailsham, who finished a close third behind the pair at Stanmer Park and had taken second place in this season's other two league events. He also won the final Sussex League race last season.

In the girls event there have been three different winners in the league this season and reigning champion Brigit Cook, from Eastbourne, and Sussex schools champion Emily Loughman (Hastings) have not appeared so far this season.

Sam Webb, from Crawley, won the first of this season's Sussex League races, over the Lancing course, Lewes's Alice Coutinho won the second race in appalling conditions at Brinsbury College while Kelly Gunn (Phoenix) took the Stanmer Park event.

Any one of these runners could take the title but it will probably be Kelly and Alice who will be fighting for the gold medal.

Favourite Without doubt the hottest favourite will be Charlotte Browning from Chichester in the under-13 girls event.

Daniel Stepney, from the Phoenix club, has dominated the league races this year and looks set to take the boys crown, but last year Tom Bilham, from Chichester, who has rarely raced in Sussex, sprung a surprise and there could be another one today.

Hailsham's Craig Ivemy has dominated the under-15s this season and the prospect of him succumbing to a rival is as unlikely as Charlotte losing the under-13 title.

The under-13 girls is a different kettle of fish and the Heath twins, Cheryl and Jenna, and Hannah Bates (Phoenix) have shared the spoils in the league races this season and they look set to contest the medals again.