Launceston Running Festival loses a third of its elite field

Organisers had enticed five of Australia's six upcoming Olympic marathon runners to enter the event but only one will make it to the start line when the event celebrates its 14th edition six months to the day after its 13th.

About 60 Victorian runners were denied the chance to compete by the latest border announcements on Thursday, including Tokyo-bound quartet Brett Robinson, Jack Rayner, Liam Adams and women's course record-holder Sinead Diver.

Robinson ran the third fastest half-marathon ever on Australia soil in Launceston last year (1:01.38) and organisers say runner-up Tom Do Canto (PB 62:13), heads a loaded field determined to again break the elusive 62-minute mark.

Tasmanian half-marathon record holder Dejen Gebreselassie will play the role of pacemaker for a field including dual Olympian Ben St Lawrence (62:51), Andy Buchanan (62:50) and Riley Cocks (63:35) while Hobart Half-Marathon champion Nick Earl (1:04.31) heads the Tasmanian contingent.

With a personal best of 1:10.48, Launceston's Rio Olympian Milly Clark starts favourite in the women's race also featuring Brit Calli Thackery (1:15.33) and a trio of fellow Tasmanians in Meriem Daoui (1:18.24), Australian of the year Grace Tame (1:23.21) and Mel Daniels on debut at the distance.

A new king and queen will be unveiled in the 10km races.

Despite the absentees, there are still 12 men who have personal bests under 30 minutes set to line up, the quickest being Sydney's Kieran Tall with 28:47.

T46 para world record holder Michael Roeger is in the shape of his life and will look to challenge for the win, along with South Australian Daniel Canala, Canberra's Hugh Williams, Brisbane's Tim Vincent and Sydney's Matt Hudson.

Incorporating the Tasmanian Road Running Championships, the 10km race has attracted a plethora of the state's top runners.

Evergreen Beechford runner Dave Thomas is in terrific form having taken out Hobart's City To Casino last month while Newstead's 19-year-old Sam Clifford has come agonisingly close to breaking the 30-minute barrier.

Other contenders for the Tassie title will be Douglas Hamerlok, Ben Covington, Bailey Murzecki-Hince, Aaron Humphrey and Nathan Morey.

Tokyo-bound marathoner Ellie Pashley (nee O'Kane) will start the firm favourite for the women's 10km race.

After breaking the course record at the Easter Marathon in Hobart and coming second in Hobart's record-breaking Run The Bridge in February, Pashley has covered the distance on the track in 31:18.

Canberra's Leanne Pompeani is fresh off a personal best of 32:27 at the Sydney 10 and Casey Wood returns from Adelaide seeking a podium finish.

University of San Francisco athlete Ruby Smee leads the Tasmanian charge with a personal best of 33:30, after her win in the City to Casino.

Financial bonuses are on offer for breaking the course records in the 10km (28:31 and 31:58 set by Rayner and Diver in 2018) and half-marathon (1:01.38 and 1:11.38 set by Robinson and Andrea Seccafien last year).

With no rain or wind forecast, organisers believe conditions are primed for fast times with around 1500 runners and walkers expected to join the elite athletes on the start line.