Experienced runner Clinton Hall and teenage challenger Tom Hynes have run a race within a race the past two years.

Hall won three of the four five-kilometre events in January with Hynes pushing him to the finish each time.

Ballarat visitor Jesse Fullerton took out the opening race.

Warrnambool Athletics Club president John Keats expects the local pair to again be on the podium. 

“Clinton Hall will be a mainstay and Tommy Hynes I believe is running well at the moment and starting to get over injuries,” he said.

“Oscar Robinson is running well, so he will be a bit of a threat to the boys.

“In the girls, Alison Wilson will be up there.”

The four-week summer series at Flagstaff Hill starts on January 7. It includes a 5km walk option.

Walkers will start at 5.45pm each Wednesday and runners 15 minutes later.

“The walkers are growing. Over winter we had free membership for walkers so that was very well received,” Keats said.

“Walkers are a big part of all runs now and we like to cater for them as well.”

Keats, who was re-elected for a third term as president last month, is confident the summer series’ popularity will be reflected with strong numbers next month.

It attracted in excess of 200 participants at times earlier this year but soaring heat — temperatures rose above 40 for race two — resulted in fluctuations. 

“We were topping 200 and I am hoping to get more than that,” Keats said.

Warrnambool Athletics Club uses the series as a major fund-raiser.

“It was a big fund-raiser last year for Peter’s Project and this year we’re raising money for the hospice,” he said.