Organisers were confident of reaching the 500 mark by yesterday’s deadline as the Bermuda Pacers host their 24th annual children’s mile races today under new sponsorship.

The Skyport Magic Mile has replaced the Telford Electric sponsorship of the last 23 years as the event grew to be one of the most popular events on the athletics calendar.

“It was tough. We had a good relationship with Telford the past 23 years,” Bermuda Pacers president Wayne Raynor said yesterday. “We are certainly grateful that Skyport have come on board.

“We sent out letters to different companies seeking assistance and they responded very quickly. We have had ongoing talks about the forward movement and we’re happy that they are glad to invest in the youth at Bermuda Pacers Track Club.”

Raynor, who is also the race director with Cal Simons, revealed that some 489 youngsters had signed up by noon yesterday. That number already surpasses the 474 from last year and Raynor was optimistic that the final count would surpass 500 by the 5pm deadline yesterday.

“We’ve had 1,000 one year, before the economy took a dip,” Raynor revealed. “We normally range between 550 and 800.”

Numbers can be picked up from 8.30 to 11.00 this morning at the National Sports Centre. The first 150 athletes to collect their number will receive a Skyport Magic Mile bag.

“We want to encourage parents to get there early and pick up the race numbers,” Simons added. “We’re really excited about having Skyport on board.”

Racing will start at noon with the four-year-old girls who will do one lap along with the five-year-olds. The six-year-olds will run a half mile before the Special Olympics track team competes in a 100 metres race and walk at 1.50, before the mile races resume with the 12 to 15-year-olds competing at 2pm.

Carifta Games hopefuls for the girls under-17 and under-20 200 metres will compete at 2.05 before the mile events resume up to 4pm.