Cal Simons On Skyport Magic Mile
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Schools will compete for prizes in the Skyport Magic Mile, Powered by the Pacers Track Club, at the Flora Duffy Stadium on Saturday [March 1].
The event will offer cash donations to schools with the highest participation numbers.
Private and public schools from pre-school, primary, middle, and high school categories will be eligible to win $200, courtesy of Skyport, who became the lead sponsor of the event in 2019.
In addition to the cash prizes, medals will be awarded to the fastest runners in each age group, and a trophy will be presented to the first-place winner in every category.
Skyport will also provide a $2,000 scholarship to a promising college-bound athlete from the Bermuda Pacers Track Club.
Cal Simons, the head coach of Pacers, who helped found the annual junior race in 1995, highlighted the strong partnership between the event and local schools.
“The prize money from will fittingly go directly to each school’s athletic programmes, which will really help the schools,” Simons told Bernews.
“We have a recipient for this year’s scholarship and will make a presentation to the young man’s parents as he’s away in school. We’re very grateful to Skyport for their support.”
Simons expressed confidence in another impressive turnout this year and hopes they can reach 900 registered participants.
The participation record stands at 1,009.
“The numbers are going well,” he said. “We had 860, 870 last year, so it would be nice if we could get 900.”
Simons, a key figure in the Pacers Track Club, which was founded in 1981, emphasised the significant role the Magic Mile has played in exposing local talent to overseas competitions.
“This is a major fundraiser for the Pacers,” Simons said. “It will allow us to take athletes overseas to compete later this year.
“We recently competed at the Speed Capital Caribbean Showcase in Florida, where some athletes came close to qualifying for the Carifta Games in Trinidad and Tobago in April.
“We have a few meets planned for the summer, including the Flying Angels International Championships in Ontario, Canada, in July, and the East Coast Invitational and the Russell E. Blunt East Coast Invitational Track Meet in Durham, North Carolina.”
Among the illustrious “Hall of Famers” from the Magic Mile are Dame Flora Duffy, Dage Minors, Tre Houston, Juma Mouchette, Kyle Webb, Ryan Outerbridge, Khazi Sealey, Trey Simons, Jauza James, Allison Outerbridge, Alexis Bean, Kyrah Scraders, and Jaeda Grant.
The highly anticipated event will start at noon and is open to boys and girls aged 4 to 15.
The race distances vary by age group: 4 to 5-year-olds will run one lap of the track, 6 to 7-year-olds will run two laps, 8 to 9-year-olds will run three laps, and all other age groups will complete four laps.
Families will also be able to enjoy the Security Associates Kids Village, a fun-filled area featuring bouncy castles, an obstacle course, a climbing wall, and various other activities.
Additionally, qualifying races for the 100 and 400 metres will be held for athletes aiming to qualify for Carifta.
“Hopefully, the crowd will make so much noise the kids will want to run right through the finish line,” Simons added.
“It will be a great opportunity for them to compete in front of a big crowd.”
The Skyport Magic Mile is sponsored by Pacers Track Club, Security Associates, Sol Petroleum Bermuda, BermudAir, Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice, Butterfield and Vallis, and Barritt’s Ginger Beer.
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to sign up their young runners before the deadline tomorrow [February 28] here
