Hundreds of spectators will descend on Front Street on Friday night to secure their spots to watch an intriguing mix of athletes in the Butterfield Mile.

With three-times champion Dage Minors absent, Sean Trott, Ryan Outerbridge and Kallan Richardson are carrying Bermuda’s hopes in the elite men’s race, in which Ben Claridge will return as the defending champion.

It would be wrong to say that Trott is looking forward to running on Front Street, something he last did seven years ago.

“Friday will be a big test for me,” Trott told The Royal Gazette.

“I haven’t done a mile race since 2019, so it will be a baptism by fire for me. I’m coming back into something that scares me a bit, but I know it’s ultimately good for me as a runner to do a short race like this every now and then to get the legs moving a bit faster.

“In 2019, I did the mile as a part of the Triangle Challenge and I did 5min 4sec, so I definitely want to do better this year.

“In December I started to do more work at the mile pace that I would be hoping to hit. I’ve been doing faster sprints to get my legs turning over a bit more and hopefully those will translate to a good time on the night.”

The Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby champion has no huge expectations for the race and does not expect to be contending for the race victory.

“Looking at the field, from what I’ve seen they're going to put us with the local men anyway, so it’s going to be the local men plus the elite men in the field,” he said.

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“I definitely want to put myself in contention with the local guys and if I can beat a few of the guys that have come in from overseas, then that’ll make me happy too.

“The mile is probably not my strongest event, so the more people I can beat the better I’ll feel about it.

Trott has focused mostly on the 10K in which he feels he stands a better chance. He is also registered for the PwC Bermuda Half-Marathon on Sunday, but he has indicated that his participation will depend on what transpires on the previous two days.

“Saturday is the real focus for me,” the 35-year-old said.

“I always try to do well in that. Last year was actually the best time I’d ever run in the 10K, 33:43, so I want to better that. I was ninth overall last year with a lot of the elite guys and I would definitely love it if I can get into the top five

“I’m going to assess things as the weekend goes. If my legs feel too trashed after Saturday, I will make the decision to not run the Sunday, but I’m hoping things hold up well enough. I want to be smart, looking at the longer season ahead of me as well.”

Outerbridge, who finished seventh in the Mile last year, is backing himself to get a spot in the top three.

“I just want to put myself in the race and I would love to finish on the podium,” the 23-year-old said.

“I want to race well, put myself in the mix and show that I can compete with the best. I recognise a lot of the names from previous years, one of them being the defending champion, so it will be nice to race against them.

“I’ll be racing on Saturday as well and see what I have left in my legs. My main focus is the mile on Friday but I would like to be competitive in the 10K and finish as the first local male.”

Like Trott, Richardson has not competed over the mile distance in some time and is anxious in advance of the race.

“Probably the last time I did something close to a mile would have been at the Carifta Games, so that would have been about three years ago now,” the 20-year-old said.

“I’m just looking forward to seeing how it goes because it’s something new.”

Despite complications related to her ongoing cancer therapy, Rose-Anna Hoey is determined to take on the Half Challenge.

“Unfortunately, I’ve had joint issues as a result of my cancer treatment in November so I couldn’t run for a month, but I started to build up slowly again in December,” she said.

“I found it hard to walk at the time so running was out of the question. I’m taking part in the Half Challenge to see where I am fitnesswise. I’ve always been content to give races a try, even when I’m not 100 per cent fit, as I just love to run.”

The highlight for Hoey over the three days will be backing her son, Matthew, when he competes in the 13 years and under race on Friday.

“My main focus of the weekend will be to cheer on our son Matthew, who is just 11 and will be taking part in the Middle School Mile on Front Street,” the 44-year-old said.

“I’ll also be out supporting the Mid Atlantic Athletic Club juniors, who I coach with Ashley Couper. On Saturday I will run the 10K race with my son and his friend, Liam Horrobin. They are great little runners who will likely outsprint me at the end.”

The loudest cheers on Friday night will most likely be heard when the young runners take to the course.

Sanchez Smith and Dylan Eiselt ran a fast time in the boys 17 and under trials last month. While Eiselt has been ruled out by injury, Smith is geared up for the race.

“I’m really excited about running,” Smith said. “I’ve prepared well for the race with training specific to the mile. I’m looking forward to stiff competition from Gianluca Bortoli, Jackson Langley and Cameron Adkins. I think the race will be fast and tight, but I feel pumped for it.”

Bortoli is eager to put past disappointments behind him as he seeks his first high-school title.

“I’ve never finished on the podium or been very satisfied with my races in previous years, having had my fair share of disappointments on Front Street,” the 16-year-old said.

“This year I am feeling very confident in my ability as I have had some convincing training sessions and recently clocked a 1,500 time I believe should put me in contention.

“However, the race will be very competitive and it could be anybody’s race on the night. I’m really looking forward to it and I’m excited to race against such a deep field.”

Riana Robinson recorded the best time among the girls during the trials in the 17 and under age group.

“I look forward to the mile race,” Robinson said. “I have been training hard and making sure to rest. My goal is to win the mile this year but, most importantly, have fun, enjoy the moment and give it my very best.”