Excitement is building for the return of the popular Skyport Magic Mile this weekend, with 300 runners already signed up for Saturday’s junior races at the Flora Duffy Stadium.

The event, which was not held in 2020 and 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, is making a welcomed return in this its 25th year.

This will be the fourth year that Skyport has been the main sponsor of the event after coming on board in 2019.

“We are really pleased and proud to be back at the National Sports Centre for the Skyport Magic Mile,” said Cal Simons, the race director along with Wayne Raynor, the president of Bermuda Pacers Track Club.

“It has been two years since we hosted this event and the club, along with our major sponsors, Skyport, are extremely excited about holding this event.

“This marks 25 years that we have hosted this event and we’re really excited about it. The deadline for paper entries is Thursday and online deadline is Friday at 7pm.”

In its last year of competition, which was Skyport’s first year as sponsors, about 500 youngsters signed up to participate. The Bermuda Pacers are hoping to pass the 400 mark by this week’s deadline.

Skyport is excited to see the event return as they continue their investment in young people.

“Skyport is very passionate about Bermuda’s youth, we have invested over a half-million dollars in the last five years in sports, arts, education and our young people’s wellbeing,” said Mikaela Pearman, their Marketing and Communications officer.

“We are so excited about this year’s Skyport Magic Mile. When it came to partnering with the Pacers it was a no-brainer for us, they prioritise Bermuda’s youth and train Bermuda’s youth to become incredible members of society and that is exactly what is important to us at Skyport.

“We would like to encourage everyone to come out on Saturday, if you have a young runner in your family, definitely register them so that they can enjoy their day.

“I’m looking forward to seeing my four-year old son run, he is so excited and has been waiting for this race since last year.”

A change to the racing this year will see the older age group runners competing inside the Flora Duffy Stadium rather than going out to the Arboretum and back as was the case previously.

The four and five-year-olds will run one lap around the 400 metre track, the six and seven-year-olds will run two laps and all other age groups ‒ from ages eight to 15 ‒ will run four laps, which is a mile.

Racing will start at noon and, because of Covid-19 restrictions, parents are asked to bring their children to the stadium at least 45 minutes before the scheduled time of their event.

“It is more important for us to stress safety with Covid and this will be a mass event so spectators will be required to wear masks,” Simons pointed out.

Raynor said seating will be available on both the eastern and western sides to accommodate the spectators.

“The first event is at 12 o’clock with the four-year-old girls and we will go to about 4.30pm with different age groups taking off every 20 minutes,” he explained.

Riana Robinson, who will be competing in the 10 to 11 race, is excited to be competing again in the event.

“I’ve been in Pacers for three years now and I am running in the Skyport Mile. You should sign up because it is fun, not really a race to compete,” she urged other youngsters.