The finals of the Fastest Kid on the Rock gave some of Bermuda’s youngest sprinters the chance to shine on the Bermuda Grand Prix stage yesterday.

After preliminaries were held at Flora Duffy Stadium on Saturday evening, the finalists were given their chance to sprint in front of a packed crowd just before a string of world-class athletes strutted their stuff.

In the girls’ 50m final for five to six-year-olds, Bree Simmons, who attends Somerset Primary, came out on top in 9.49 seconds ahead of the unattached Diamond Morris and Lucy Shailer, who attends Saltus Grammar School.

Theodore Smith, of Harrington Sound Primary, took the boys’ honours in the same age group with a decent time of 9.11 seconds, ahead of Zorrin Rogers, of St. George's Preparatory and Connor Johnson from Northlands Primary.

Aalirah Daniels, of Bermuda Pacers Track Club, came first in the race for girls aged seven to eight years, followed by Jordyn Lewis and Ava Clarke-Trott.

Khaleef Daley attached to GS Running Club had a similar time in winning the boys’ race ahead of Port Royal Primary School’s Desani Samuels.

Leydi Raynor was the winner in the girls’ 80m race for athletes aged nine to ten in 11.58 seconds, with second position taken by Bermuda Pacers clubmate Jasmine Reid-Rubaine. Jaylon Glasford won the boys race in the same division, crossing the line in 11.97 seconds, just ahead of Jace Postlethwaite of Bermuda Pacers Track Club.

Athletes aged 11 and 12 were the youngest to race over 100m final, with Milan Gibbons-Thomas coming home first in 13.28 seconds in the girls race ahead of Zakhya Scott. Chanz Martin beat Adam Barritt in the boys race.

In the girls’ 100m race for those aged 13 or 14, Pria Wilson ran 13.11 seconds to beat Lashee Jones. Bermuda Pacers Track Club’s Malik Paynter ran 12.24 seconds to triumph in the boys’ race, with second position secured by Saezjhor Dent.

A time of 13.42 seconds was enough for Jahstice Grant to win the girls’ 100m for the 15 to 17 age group, with second going to Nishati Smith. In the boys’ race, one of Bermuda’s brightest prospects Miles Outerbridge posted a time of 11.86 seconds to see off the challenge of Kemontai Bailey.

Speaking on the sidelines at the event, Bermuda National Athletics Association president Freddy Evans is excited about what the future holds with the event seen as motivator for the island’s young stars to compete in such events in future.

“I am very excited the kids got a chance to have fun and compete in front of a crowd,” Evans said.

“The goal is get them exposure and hopefully inspire them to continue in athletics and maybe go and see themselves competing in big games like these.

“We have some talented young people supported by some great parents and there are other athletes who aren't in Bermuda that we are trying to invite and recruit to come out, so I would say the future of track and field in Bermuda is bright.

As a way of ensuring that the momentum is not lost from the Bermuda Grand Prix, BNAA will be hosting the National Championships on June 23 and 24 at the Flora Duffy Stadium, where 60 visiting athletes from the United States will be competing.