Manou (nee Lewis) is yet to announce retirement plans, but the London Olympics in July is strongly tipped to draw the final curtain on the 33-year-old’s stellar career.

In the first two editions of the Hunter Track Classic at Glendale’s Hunter Sports Centre, the three-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist has been the main drawcard and has delivered with two victories in the 400metres.

Adamstown flyer Pirrenee Steinert is expected to be Manou’s major threat in the main event race as she strives for an Olympic A qualifying time of 51.50seconds.

This year’s Classic has attracted international standard foreign competitors for the first time in US throwers Russ Winger (shot put and discus) and Mike Hazle (javelin) and 1500m runners Nick McCormick (UK) and Hamish Carson (New Zealand).

Winger is building towards London and will go head-to-head with Newcastle’s Commonwealth Games gold medallist Benn Harradine in the discus.

Hazle finished 12th at the Beijing Games, where he threw a personal best of 82.21m.

The 2009 discus world champion, Dani Samuels, will return for her second appearance at Glendale.

The 1500m will be the finale, and in a rarity for Australia athletics meetings, the crowd will be invited onto the track to cheer the runners.

Westcott said that he is hoping for a crowd of more than 3000.

Other Hunter athletes in action will include sprinters Laura Whaler (100m and 200m), Liam Gander (100m) and Joshua Ross (100m).