than a week, with thousands flocking to the Prospect venue in support of Bermuda's youngsters.

However, while it was soccer that previously gave cause to a filling of the stands, Saturday saw such bedlam being brought on by the eighth staging of the Telford Electric Magic Mile competition.

To the raucous cheers of an adoring crowd, close to one thousand youngsters `strutted their stuff' both on the track and through the mazy trails of the nearby Arboretum, with several future stars revealed on the day.

There were also some upsets, with Taijuan Talbot springing one in the Boys' 13-15 age group as he beat out highly regarded foes Terence Dill and Coyatito Smith over the approximate one mile distance.

The Clearwater Middle School student traversed the course in seven minutes, 42 seconds, five seconds faster than second placed Dill (7:47) and almost a half-minute better than Smith (8:05).

As expected, Flora Duffy took the rival girls division, timed in 8:29, and breaking the tape more than a minute ahead of Justin Wilson and Ashley Kirkpatrick, both of whom clocked 9:57.

Deanne Lightbourn sprung a surprise in the 10-12 girls bracket, coming from nowhere to usurp the expected challenges of Shellicia McKenzie and Ashley Brooks. Lightbourn beat both, clocking 8:48 and was followed home by Brittany Pitt (8:57), McKenzie (8:59) and Brooks (9:17).

Conversely, Winton Woodley continued his graduated dominance of the event, taking the six-year-old class, this after previously taking the top podium spot at four and five.

Race Director Cal Simons declared all involved to have been winners, with participation preceding placement.

"The meet went extremely well, with the sponsors satisfied. The response and patience shown by the parents was great,'' said Simons, who also acts in the lead role as coach of Bermuda Pacers Running Club.

"There were some splendid performances all the way from the four-year-olds to the 15-year-olds.

"We had some real quality out there, certainly some who had done some preparation and it paid off and I would say that things look good for the future.'' Meanwhile, other winners included Emma Keane (four-year-old girls), Christopher Peichoto (four-year-old boys), Shanya Bashir (five-year-old girls), Eli Smith and Caldre Burgess (five-year-old boys), Verdet Kessler (six-year-old girls), Jair Minors (six-year-old boys -- second race), Ravoshia Whaley (seven-year-old girls), Trey Simons and Adonai Laws (seven-year-old boys), Charlene Grant (8-9 girls), Ryan Hopkins (8-9 boys) and Kor-Von Tucker (10-12 boys).

Full results will appear in The Royal Gazette later this week.