Chris Estwanik, Bermuda’s top distance runner, will make his debut in the NatWest Island Games in Jersey in June.

Estwanik, America-born but living in Bermuda since 2007, has established himself as the Island’s most accomplished runner over the last eight years, winning all the major road running titles.

He is expected to be included in an athletics team of about 15 for the Games, which run from June 27 to July 3, competing in the 5K, 10K and half-marathon.

“My body feels strong again and I am working hard to stay injury-free,” said Estwanik, a five-times winner of the Bermuda Day Half-Marathon Derby, who has returned to running after recovering from a back injury.

“I’m looking forward to representing Bermuda for the first time at the Island Games as I have missed the last three opportunities due to the births of both my children [in 2009 and 2011] and an injury in 2013.”

Estwanik’s Wife Ashley, who won a bronze medal in the 10,000 metres two years ago in her first Games, is also understood to be keen to compete again. The track and field team has not yet been confirmed.

The Bermuda Golf Association have announced its team of four men and four women but many sports are still finalising their squads, with a final group of around 132 athletes expected to represent 14 sports, including athletics, basketball, cycling, golf, sailing, tennis and triathlon.

Missing will be football and swimming, both of whom have upcoming international commitments. The men’s and women’s football teams won the gold medal in 2013.

Two years ago on home soil Bermuda fielded a strong team of 219 athletes in 14 sports and won 76 medals, 27 of them gold, against 21 other Island teams at the fifteenth Games.

Jon Beard, the chairman of the Bermuda Island Games Association, accepts those achievements will be difficult to match this year.

“Our teams won’t be as strong as in Bermuda, but we hope that we will still do well in the medal table,” Beard said. “It’s going to be a development situation in some sports like volleyball, but that’s how some sports use the Games, either for their top athletes or development.

“For me it’s a level playing field, playing against countries of similar populations. Nearby islands like Guernsey and Isle of Man will turn up with 200 or 300 people competing. We expect that our golf teams will be there or thereabouts in the medals. Jarryd Dillas and Will Haddrell have both been gold medallists in previous games.”

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Games which started in 1985 in the Isle of Man with roughly 700 athletes from 15 islands taking part in seven different sports. There are now 25 islands who are members of the International Island Games Association.