The experienced Denholm has been coaching runners for the Christmas carnivals since 1991 and boasts an involvement in athletics of more than 40 years.

Her stable includes last year's Tasmanian Athletic League runner-up sprinter of the year Laura Nicholson, former Latrobe Gift winner and last year's Devonport Carnival 200 metres champion Thomas Pfundt and this season's in-form runner Abbey Walters, who already has five wins to her credit.

Also in the group is this year's All Schools national under-18 400m silver medallist Abby De la Motte, up-and-coming sprinter Andrew Robinson and middle- distance specialists James Hansen and Darcy Lahey.

"We've had a lot of success so far in the lead-up carnivals and we're looking forward to the carnival series," Denholm said.

"It is a great experience for my young athletes to compete in front of a big crowd of spectators and we enjoy the atmosphere provided by the combination of running and cycling events."

Denholm said her runners hoped to do well but expected tough competition from visiting interstate runners.

"It will be interesting to see how they go because there are quite a few interstate runners coming over this year so we will have to see how we go - but they will all be excited to compete on handicap against them," she said.