Bermudian medal hopes Jah-Nhai Perinchief and Kyrah Scraders have opted not to compete in what would have been their final Carifta Games next month in Grenada.

The pair, who are freshmen at Iowa Community College, will miss the March 25 to 28 competition as it clashes with the start of their school’s outdoor season.

They will be involved in the Grand View Open in Des Moines, Iowa, on the Thursday of that weekend and the Arkansas Spring Meet on the Friday and Saturday.

“They have qualified and are eligible but are not going to be available,” Troy Douglas, the Bermuda National Athletics Association head coach, said.

“I had a conversation with the [Iowa] coach and the athletes, the athletes made the decision so I’m going to respect that decision.

“They want to use the meet that weekend to look at another school and look at themselves in another situation. They’re looking long-term for themselves so they decided to give Carifta a pass.

“I support their [decision], to me it’s not just about their college careers but long-term careers. I have to stay on the same page as them in order to help them manage the situation they are in.”

High jumper Perinchief and middle-distance runner Scraders would have been two of Bermuda’s best medal prospects in Grenada, along with discus thrower Tiara DeRosa and high jumper Sakari Famous.

Scraders won silver in the 800 metres and bronze in the 1500 at last year’s Carifta in St Kitts, her first year competing in the under-20 category.

“The positive thing is we have such a huge group of under-18s and another group coming along for next year,” Douglas said.

“I’m more of a long-time coach, I don’t care about those two not having their last Carifta, to me they have a lifetime ahead of them.

“We get to develop individuals, I’m not going to parade you around because you did well at Carifta.

“I know how tough a decision it’s been for them, but I also know what effect it will have on them in the future.”

Also qualifying for Carifta are high jumper Elisha Darrell and middle-distance runners Tyler Smith and Lynsey Palmer.

“I’m working closely with the coaches, following the athletes and watching them not only inside training but outside training,” Douglas said. “We want them to not only qualify but to be in the mix for medals.”

Bermuda’s athletes still have several opportunities to qualify for the Carifta Games, and the island’s sprinters could get a chance tomorrow at the Telford Electric Magic Mile at the National Stadium.

Organisers are waiting for confirmation that several heats could take place during the event, Cal Simons, the race organiser, said.

“They’re looking at a select group of athletes who will possibly be running in the 100, 200 and 400 metres to try to qualify for Carifta,” Simons said.

“It’s in the schedule so when a [mile] group go out to the Arboretum we can hold those races. We’ve done it before.”

Perinchief and Scraders’s absence will improve the chances of the other nine athletes who have already qualified for Carifta of making the team.

Ethan Philip, who is in his last year of eligibility, soared past the standard in the long jump with a leap of 7.13 this month.

Other athletes who qualified include Kevin Miller in the high jump and Aaron Jacobs in the 800. Jacobs ran a personal best 2:02.33, easing under the qualifying mark of 2:03.

Lynsey Palmer, Sakari Famous, Elisha Darrell, Tyler Smith and Tiara Derosa had all previously qualified.