THE Bermuda Pacers Track Club will stage the first Schools' Relay Classic this evening at the National Sports Centre starting at 5 p.m. And Pacers head coach Cal Simons said he hoped that the meet would become an annual one and eventually end up being like the Penn Relays and cover three days. "We have so many good young track athletes in Bermuda and this is a way to help boost the sport," said Simons who takes his club team away to various meets on the US east coast throughout the year.

"We are just starting with Friday night this year and it will be all relays this time around. But we would like to see in years to come the meet get bigger and bigger with relays on the Friday and track and field events on the Saturday and Sunday similar to the Penn Relays which is very big and very popular. In the future we would also like to bring in schools and athletes from abroad and make it an international event."

Over $4,000 is on offer for the winning schools tonight. "We have an anonymous sponsor who has put up the money and the winning schools will be able to win some cash to help with their PE programmes," said Simons adding, "and the relays will also held the track clubs in Bermuda and the Bermuda Track and Field Association to identify individuals who may want to compete for them. We also should have some of our Carifta athletes running on Friday as well."

There will be 15 Primary School teams, five Middle School teams and five High School teams competing this evening. "Relays are always the most exciting race in track and field and we urge everyone to come out and enjoy the competition," said Simons.

The action starts at 5 p.m. with the 4 X 100 Primary School girls relays. There are two relay distances ¿ the 4 X 100 and the 4 X 400 ¿ and the night ends with the 4 X 100 High School boys relays.

The cash awards will be $500 for first place, $300 for second place and $200 for third place and there will also be a $200 award presented to the top school with the highest total points in the male and female division.