Races take place in Prospect this morning.

Some 800-plus young athletes are expected for the set of races, which will involve toddlers and children up to 12 years-old.

Toddlers (two--three years) will embark on 50 or 100 metre `sprints', while four and five-year-olds and six and seven-year-olds tackle quarter and half mile routes around the Police field.

Eight and nine-year-olds and those in the 10-12 bracket will run one and one and a quarter mile loop courses respectively, that will see them routed through the nearby Arboretum before finishing at the field.

Race director Brett Forgesson yesterday expressed his keenness at seeing the children involved in positive activities such as running. And as a prominent road racer himself, he said he understood the importance of the event as a developmental tool.

"It's great to have them out doing something healthy, get them away from the computers, into the fresh air and have them enjoy the sport,'' said Forgesson, a former winner of the May 24 Marathon Derby. "Hopefully they will continue beyond the early ages.

"It's a good start for them and we've had a lot of the top runners come through these sort of junior races. This is the 24th year for this one and we've had the Jay Donawas, the Kavin Smiths, these sort of people that have come up through that and gone on to become top runners.

"So hopefully some of the juniors that come up tomorrow will go on to do the same.'' Action gets underway at 10 a.m., with the final race sceduled for 11.45 a.m.

Race numbers can be collected no later than a half hour prior to the specific event.

NEW ENGLAND TEAM ON SOCCER TOUR SOC New England team on soccer tour A youth team representing Hampshire FC is currently on a soccer tour in Bermuda, with five matches scheduled against local youth outfits.

Thursday night saw the visitors go down 1-0 to top local club North Village's Under-15 side at Saltus Field, and they were due to play two more matches yesterday against Warwick Academy and Bermuda Under-15 national team at the same venue.

Today has Hampshire playing two matches against Saltus (3 p.m.) and the Bermuda Under-15s (4 p.m.) again, with Saltus as the venue.