HOMETOWN hero Steve Way is the star name at this weekend’s third edition of the Bournemouth Marathon Festival.

The 41-year-old runner will be among the 11, 000 people of all ages who will be descending on the town for the two-day event which looks set to be bigger and better than ever.

Steve, who famously went from being a 16 and a half stone smoker to finishing 10th in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow last year, is bound to draw the biggest cheers in Sunday’s marathon.

Abi Beautyman, Bournemouth Marathon Festival elite coordinator, predicts another “very quick series of road races on the fast Bournemouth route”.

Kenyan David Toniok, winner of the 2014 Edinburgh Marathon, starts out as the fastest athlete in the field with a best time of 2hrs 10mins and 39secs over the 26.2 mile distance.

Winner of the first ever Bournemouth Marathon in 2013, Ebisa Merga, returns for the third successive year. After setting the course record 2:16.41 in 204, he was second last year in 2:25.30.

In the women’s race, 2014 winner Kateryna Stetsenko will attempt to retain her title.

The Ukrainian ran 2:30:58 to break the tape last year. She is set to go shoulder-to-shoulder again with Joan Kigen of Kenya, runner-up in both 2013 and 2014.

British hopes will be carried by the improving Sophie Carter. The 36-year-old Londoner ran 2:48:15 at this year’s London Marathon and will be aiming to be the first British woman to dip under three hours at the Bournemouth Marathon.

Behind the elite athletes, there are some athletes aiming for unique world records.

Alice Burch of the New Forest is attempting to run 60 marathons in 60 consecutive days for a women’s world record. And prolific marathon runner Steve Edwards from the Cotswolds will be hoping to complete his 700th marathon in a world-record average of 3 hours 18 mins.

Sunday’s marathon will start at 10am, the half marathon begins two hours earlier. The Speed of Light 5k, Supersonic 10k and Junior Races all take place on Saturday.

For a full guide as to what is happening where and when, see bournemouthecho.co.uk/bmf