efforts over International Race Weekend.

The KPMG Running Series, five junior events culminating in a track meet at the National Stadium in April, will be launched on Sunday.

The opening race is the KPMG Junior Running Race, which gets underway at 9.00 a.m. at the Botanical Gardens in Paget.

From the Gardens, juniors aged up to 12 will complete one two-mile lap, while those aged 13-15 will run two laps.

It is open to all children under the age of 16 on April 30 this year and the age group categories are 8-10, 11-12 and 13-15.

From Sunday, there will be another three events, two weeks apart, and then the grand finale will be a 3,000-metres and 5,000-metres race on the track at the National Stadium on April 17.

Under-12s will run between 1.5 miles and three kilometres, while under-16s will compete at distances of between five kilometres and five miles.

Success will be rewarded with points and the winning boys and girls in each age group, plus one other competitor who wins a prize draw will earn a trip with a coach to a running camp in the USA.

Mark Morrison and Tiffany Eatherley will start as favourites in the 13-15 age group.

Morrison ran the 10K last Saturday in a blistering 37:09 and the hilly course will favour him, but Saltus school-mate Henry Talbot is capable of challenging Morrison.

Eatherley may find the longer distance less to her liking than Jennifer Young, who may have the edge, but Shar-dae Whitter will also be one to watch.

The boys 11-12 age group should produce an exciting finish, with Front Street mile winner Tyler Abbott facing a stiff challenge from the three Smiths, Chayce, Geoffrey and Coyatito.

Flora Duffy will start as firm favourite in the girls 11-12 with Ashley Brookes and Tamika Borden likely to be her nearest challengers.

The 8-10 group is less predictable, but some close finishes are expected.

Emily Rowe and Andrew Nichol, who both performed well in the Front Street mile, have a good chance of taking top honours.

Entry forms for Sunday's race and the KPMG Series are available from Sportseller, Sports R' Us and the Winners' Edge bike shop.

Entry fee for the race is $5 and the deadline for applications is today at 5.00 p.m. There is no charge to enter the series, but entrants must complete a form.