TYNESIDER Nick McCormick lines up against some of Europe and Africa's top road runners in tonight's showpiece Madrid 10K.

The prestigious race, which is floodlit through the central streets of the Spanish capital, offers a top prize of 5,000 euros and will be the biggest test yet for the AAA 1500m champion, who is preparing for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in March.

It will be only McCormick's second 10K after his record-breaking success in last month's Leeds Abbey Dash, where he marked his debut with a time of 29 mins 15 secs.

But he faces a much stiffer challenge in the Madrid race, which was won last year by Australian middle-distance star Craig Mottram in a rapid 28 mins 30 secs.

Chester-le-Street-based coach Lindsay Dunn is delighted by the progress of 24-year-old McCormick, who almost gave up athletics two years ago after a series of frustrating injuries. Now he is carefully guiding his charge towards the Commonwealth Games, stepping up his weekly training schedule recently to 100 miles a week.

"He is really excited about running in Madrid - it is a very big race," said Dunn.

"His preparations have gone really well and he is relishing the prospect of running against some of the best athletes in Europe.

"It is obviously a big step up for him - he has never done a 10K at that level and it will be a real test. He goes in with an open mind, trying to be as competitive as possible and aiming to finish as high up as possible."

McCormick's next test will be the 4K event in the Great Edinburgh International Cross Country meeting at Holyrood Park on January 14, where he will be joined by up-and-coming Sunderland Harrier Gavin Massingham and former World Junior Cross Country Championships international Ryan McLeod.

* Morpeth Harriers host their annual 11K road race tomorrow (11am) through the lanes around Mitford. Late entries will be accepted at Morpeth Rugby Club.

* Sunderland Harrier Steve Potts will defend his title in Hartlepool Burn Road Harriers' Old Monks 6 Multi Terrain Race from Hart Village on Monday (11am) and late entries will be taken.

* Paula Radcliffe insists she will be looking to produce a quality performance at the Vallecana New Year's Eve meeting in Madrid.

While the 10,000 fun runners enjoy the party, the world marathon champion is hoping she can avoid the shaving cream and streamers traditionally thrown by a similar number of spectators in the Spanish capital and claim a final win of 2005.

''I've always wanted to do one of these new-year races. They are very popular but I'll be treating it very seriously,'' she said.

Radcliffe knows she has a tough ten-kilometres contest on her hands if she is to sign off on another outstanding year with victory, although her racing programme was shortened in the latter stages by bronchial problems.

Jelena Prokopcuka, who last month succeeded Radcliffe as New York City marathon champion, is the biggest threat to Radcliffe's hopes.

The 29-year-old Latvian showed her steel when she recovered in the latter stages of the Big Apple race to defeat Susan Chepkemei and Derartu Tulu, two global marathon stalwarts.

Prokopcuka also has a proven pedigree over the distance, including a defeat of Ethiopia's Tulu in this year's BUPA Great Edinburgh Caledonian Run. Radcliffe has great respect for her Baltic opponent, particularly after the progress she has made in the last 12 months.