With the 30th annual Butler Road Race slated for Saturday, everything seems to be in order as the day draws closer.

Every finisher will receive a commemorative gift to mark the occasion, and, according to Mike Franko, president of the Butler Road Race Inc., there certainly will be plenty of competitors.

"The preliminary numbers are looking good," said Franko.

The 5-mile portion of the race will begin at 9 a.m. in front of the Butler County Courthouse with the 2K run-walk beginning five minutes later.

Franko is especially upbeat because 2002 5-mile winner Kevin Doyle, a graduate of Knoch High School and St. Francis (Pa.) College, has returned.

"Kevin Doyle's back and I'm putting the pressure on him," said Franko. "He promised me a course record, so if the conditions are right and he gets some competition … "

The downside is that the past two 5-mile champions, Jake Walker of Ellwood City last year and Jed Christiansen of Greenville in 2003, have not registered as of this week.

Walker's time of 25 minutes, 14 seconds is the second fastest in the 5-mile competition. The record is held by Steve Parker, who ran a 24:48 in 1993.

Doyle won in 2002 with a time of 25:54.

Tammy Slusser, who has won the past three women's 5-mile runs and also won the race from 1984-86, when it was a 10K, will try and defend her crown.

She set the women's course record for the 5-mile distance in 2002 with a time of 29:44.

Other notables include Butler resident and five-time overall champion Malcolm East, who won the 10K in 1979, 1980, 1982-83 and 1985, as well as Butler's Bill May, who will be competing in his 29th Butler Road Race, which Franko said he believes is the by anyone in the race's history.

Race day registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. in Diamond Park, across the Main Street from the courthouse.

"There will be 170 competition awards and a lot of door prizes, more than in the past," said Franko.

There will be water and sports drinks as well as post-race refreshments and the Texas Roadhouse is on board again. The restaurant gives out certificates if four family members register.

The key to the race is the college scholarship money that is awarded to Butler County cross country athletes.

This year's race will benefit the Class of 2006. In 12 years, the BRR has raised $204,850 and awarded 364 scholarships.

"We have 33 scholarship athletes (from the Class of 2005) and these kids are really sharp," said Franko.

"They averaged a 3.78 grade point average. It was neat reading with the applications they sent in. You hear so much about the bad things. I wish people could have read what we read as a committee."