Bermuda’s 12-strong team headed to St Kitts and Nevis yesterday, focused on some good performances at the Carifta Games.

Accompanied by coaches Rohaan Simons and Jarita Vickers, the team is made up mostly of jumpers and middle distance runners with Kionje Somner the lone sprinter in the Under-20 200 and 400 metres.

The team’s medal hopes will be led by Kyrah Scraders and Jah-Nhai Perinchief, who both enjoyed podium finishes last year in Martinique.

There are also four first-time participants, Keisha Miller, Aaron Jacobs, Elisha Darrell and Mikayla Wilson.

“I’m really excited, it’s a whole new experience and I’ve only been in this game for about eight months now,” long jumper Wilson said.

“Travelling and representing my country is really exciting and I will try my hardest to bring home a medal.”

“I’m new to this so I don’t want to put an exorbitant amount of pressure on myself and be absolutely disappointed, so I’ll just do my best,” said Wilson, who has been regularly jumping 1.60.

Her team-mates have been telling her what to expect in the Caribbean’s top junior athletics meet.

“They said it is amazing so I’m ready,” Wilson said.

Ethan Philip, who made his Carifta Games debut in 2012 on home soil, will be aiming for strong performances in the under-20 long jump and triple jump.

“I feel confident and feel if I PB well enough then I’ll be able to get on the podium,” said Philip, who also competed in Bahamas in 2013.

“What I’m really going for is Pan Am Junior qualifications and that’s past my PB in both triple jump and long jump.

“I feel like I’ve been training a lot harder this year, more power stuff to get my strength to a higher level so I can carry my speed.

“I feel confident I can PB and hopefully come back with some medals.”

Troy Douglas, Bermuda’s head coach, was at the airport yesterday morning to offer words of encouragement to the departing athletes.

He is confident they will represent Bermuda well this weekend.

“Preparation has been great and both of the athletes [Wilson and Philip] touched on one thing, PB, and I think it is positive from Mikayla when she says she wants to jump 1.65,” Douglas said. “Ethan said he wants qualification for Pan Ams Juniors and he understands the use of Carifta for Pan Am.

“The athletes understand what they’re doing, set goals, understand long-term plans and are patient about it and that’s the most important part.

“What’s unique is they have a chat group and chat with each other pretty regularly and really support each other.

“That’s their generation and they look forward to moments like this because they become a family.”

Last year the team won five medals from Martinique with Kyrah Scraders, the recently crowned Young Female Athlete of the Year, winning gold and silver in the 800 and 1,500 and high jumpers Sakari Famous and Perinchief claiming silver medals.

“If we come back with five medals I’ll still be happy, but more than anything I’ll be excited if all are in the top five and do PBs,” Douglas said.

“If somebody goes out there and breaks a couple of Bermuda records I’ll be even more excited.”

Perinchief is expecting some good things from Bermuda as he steps up into the under-20 division.

“I feel that as a team we will do very well, we’ve been training hard and we should come back with personal bests and medals,” said the 17-year-old. Getting up around 2.15 [7ft] would be a PB for me, my best is 2.10 [6ft 10in].”

The competition runs from Saturday to Monday.