He may not be well-known in the island’s sporting circles just yet, but Suresh Black has been tipped to become the “special one” of Bermudian athletics.

Having spent the past 1½ years at school in Barbados, it is understandable that the 14-year-old sprinter has flown largely under the radar of even the most informed Bermudian sports fanatics.

It was not until he broke two age-group records in the 100 and 200 metres at the Barbados National Championships last June that the small ripple of interest surrounding him transformed into a fully fledged wave.

Perhaps encouraged by his unmistakable Bajan lilt, the Athletics Association of Barbados wasted little time in approaching Black about representing the Caribbean island at next month’s Carifta Games in Grenada.

Those advances were swiftly spurned by Black, much to the relief of the Bermuda National Athletics Association, with the former Somersfield Academy pupil pledging his allegiance to the country of his birth.

“They [the Athletics Association of Barbados] sent me a letter about representing them but I decided not to as I’m Bermudian,” said Black, who posted times of 11.81sec in the 100 and 23.27 in the 200 at the championships.

Black returned to Bermuda last week to sit his SATs and competed at the BNAA Track and Field meet at the National Stadium on Saturday, finishing second in the under-18 100 and first in the 200.

He now hopes to qualify for the Carifta Games, which will be held from March 26 to 28, where he would be one of the youngest athletes in the competition.

“I need to get some more training in and hopefully still qualify in time and be competitive for Carifta,” said Black, who has fully recovered from a slight knee injury.

“I’ll be going for the experience mainly and hopefully I can come back stronger and more prepared.

“It’s a bit daunting because I’m only 14 and will be competing at the under-18 level.”

Black, whose mother Debbie is Guyanese, competes for the Dash Track Club locally under the guidance of De-Von Bean, who coached the youngster before he moved to Barbados to attend the Codrington School.

It was in Dash’s colours he won the 100 and 200 in the 13-14 age group at the Russell E Blunt East Coast Invitational in North Carolina last summer, setting personal bests of 11.16 and 22.54.

Bean is cautious not to place too much pressure on Black but, despite his best efforts, he struggles to contain his excitement when discussing the potential of his protégé.

“If I was to go out on a limb, and I want to be careful not to build him up too much, I’d say he is a special one,” said Bean, who still holds the national 100 record at 10.27.

“Bermuda needs to get behind this kid and invest in him. I’ve been around this sport long enough to know talent and this kid has it.”

Aside from natural ability, Bean believes it is Black’s mental intensity and willingness to make the required sacrifices that set him apart from athletes of a similar age.

“He’s an intellectual kid, a talented kid, and studies the best,” Bean said. “He brings up stats even I didn’t know.

“He doesn’t just come training and then leave the stadium and go back to being a regular civilian.

“He eats like an athlete, sleeps like an athlete and breathes like an full-time athlete 24/7 — that’s what sets him apart.”

Bean, a BNAA coach, felt last year’s Carifta Games in St Kitts and Nevis came too soon for Black, who does not turn 15 until May.

But with a breakout season under his belt, Bean is confident that Black is well-equipped for another valuable lesson in his education as a sprinter.

“Suresh blossomed last season and I think this year will be a good time for him to experience Carifta,” he said. “Up until now he’s pretty much beaten everyone else hands down.

“It will be his first big test and all the great ones like Usain Bolt and Veronica Campbell-Brown have come through Carifta.

“He’s a tall individual and has the range to run the 100, 200 and 400. He can do it all if he sets his mind to it.”

Bermuda has not unearthed a track and field athlete capable of winning medals at major competitions since the halcyon days of Brian Wellman, Clarence “Nicky” Saunders and Troy Douglas in the 1990s.

Black has a way to go before he can be uttered in the same breath as the “Three Musketeers” — a nickname coined by Donna Raynor, the BNAA president — although Bean believes the youngster shares several characteristics with Bermuda’s famous athletics trio.

“That Barbados wanted him should say a lot about the talent this kid has,” Bean said. “He could be the next Brian Wellman, Nicky Saunders, Troy Douglas.

“As the saying goes ‘hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard enough’. This kid has the talent, plus he works hard.”

Should Bean’s words prove prophetic, Barbados’ loss will almost certainly be Bermuda’s gain.