Two local runners have been burning up the local road racing circuit this summer: Cassie Hintz of Stillwater and Judson Cake of Bar Harbor.

Those two runners are the defending champions of the Bangor Labor Day 5-miler in their respective categories, and both of them are expected back to run the 43rd edition of the race Monday morning at 9.

Last weekend, the 17-year old Hintz did what most runners don’t dare to do: two road races in 24 hours.

She won them both.

Last Saturday, she won the 11th annual New Balance 5K in Skowhegan in 17 minutes, 24 seconds, 1:08 ahead of the runner-up. Then on Sunday, she traveled to Stockton Springs for the Stockton Springs 5.5-miler, where she came in first with a time of 31:57, nearly four minutes ahead of the second-place finisher.

“To win back-to-back races, I don’t think that’s ever been done,” Labor Day race director Skip Howard said. “I don’t know if Joannie Benoit [Samuelson] ever did that.”

The Labor Day course has a fast start, fast finish, but a tough middle mile.

“Other than that middle mile, that course is unbelievably fast,” Howard said “If you don’t save energy by the time you reach Holland Street Hill, you can lose it right there. Guys have [lost it there in the past].”

The race starts under the I-395 overpass on Main Street, follows a fast, flat start before heading up Railroad Street and eventually onto Harlow Street.

“The two-mile point on Harlow Street, and the three-mile point on West Broadway when you make the turn off Union [Street], that mile makes the difference,” Howard said.

After turning off West Broadway onto Buck Street, runners will crest down what many locals have called “the greatest downhill in all of racing.”

“You just turn it on there, it’s a great, great finish,” Howard said.

Like Hintz, Cake has had a strong season. He’s coming off wins the last two weekends at the Machias Blueberry and Northeast Harbor races, both of 5-milers.

“He’s the points leader, he’s had a terrific year,” Howard said, referring to the fact that Cake leads the Trade Winds Marketplace/Sub 5 Race Series point standings. “He just had a good race at Northeast Harbor.”

Howard also said that Hintz can’t be counted out for the overall title, which she won in both races she entered last weekend.

“You can’t count her out overall depending on who decides to show up,” he said.

Monday’s race registration takes place at the Bangor Parks and Recreation Building on Main Street from 7:45-8:45. Forms are also available at www.sub5.com. Anyone with questions may contact Howard (223-4715) or Bangor Parks and Recreation director Tracy Willette (992-4497).