Formal:
* Field (e.g., "The field of competitors was strong this year.")
* Contenders (e.g., "The contenders for the championship were all highly skilled.")
* Participants (e.g., "The participants in the race were all eager to win.")
Informal:
* Rivals (e.g., "The rivals battled it out for first place.")
* Opponents (e.g., "The team faced tough opponents in the playoffs.")
* Contests (e.g., "There were a lot of contests for the best price.")
Descriptive:
* Group of competitors
* Gathering of competitors
* Array of competitors
* Squad of competitors
Ultimately, the best choice depends on the specific context and desired tone of your writing.