Marathon Derby.

A group of Island runners have set out to make the traditional Bermuda Day event "more inclusive'' by launching the Junior Classic Road Race for up to 50 youngsters.

"This way kids get to be part of the day,'' said Ed Ball, who came up with the idea along with the Junior Classic "committee'' of veteran runners Sonia Showers, Roger Lambert and Clarence Smith.

The race takes runners aged 9-15 on a Hamilton course from the Cenotaph to Bernard Park. It's scheduled to start at 9.40 a.m. and, because the main 13.3-mile course includes elite runners, cyclists and in-line skaters, it will have to be conducted with "military precision,'' Ball said.

That's a big reason organisers were limited to just 50 runners by the Ministry of Youth Development, Sport and Recreation. Ball said the committee hoped to make it an open event but had since been forced to turn it into an invitational, with entrants based on results of road races through the past winter.

But the focus remains "character building'' and "good-natured competition,'' Ball said. Random prizes as well as trophies for top finishers in the three age groups will be handed out.