Bermuda’s 15-strong squad will go in pursuit of medal glory at the Carifta Swimming Championships in Kingston, Jamaica, which start this weekend.

Madelyn Moore, Elan Daley, Sam Williamson, Logan Watson-Brown, Brian Desmond and Jack Harvey are among the strong medal contenders for the team, which leaves the island on Thursday.

Also competing at the four-day event are five newcomers Kai Legband, Elijah Daley, Jaedyn Judd, Josephine Duerden and Giada Dudley-Pun along with Taylor White, Gabriela Pitman, Skyler Powell and Ethan Daley.

Moore will compete in her final Carifta after narrowly failing to qualify for the upcoming Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. She will perform ten events in the 15 to 17 age category.

Ben Smith, the Bermuda head coach, expects Moore to end her Carifta career on a high.

“With the results she’s had over the past six months, we’re hoping she will be able to put all that together at Carifta,” he said.

“She will be tapering to put some fast times at Carifta as it’s an opportunity to qualify for the Youth Olympic Games [in Buenos Aires in October].”

Elan Daley, who will race in 14 events in the 11 and 12 girls’ division, is another swimmer Smith believes can be a “star” at the meet.

“She’s seeded really well, but I always tell the kids, ‘Don’t pay too much attention to that as it all depends on how you swim on the day’. When you look at the level she’s swimming at, she could be a star of the meet.”

Bermuda collected 39 medals — a Carifta record for the island — at the previous Games in Nassau, Bahamas, last year, with Smith predicting another sizeable haul.

“We have several swimmers in medal contention and we’re hoping to put in a good performance,” Smith added. “It’s difficult to set targets as you have swimmers who age up as you go through. We’re just looking for as many personal bests as possible.”

Among the newcomers is Legband, a New Jersey-based swimmer, who will compete in his only Carifta.

“We only became aware of him about a year ago,” Smith said. “His mother is Bermudian. Unfortunately this will be his last Carifta as he’s the same age as Maddy [17].

“We are happy to have the newcomers come on a team with people who have been to several Cariftas. We’re also looking forward to having the third Daley, Elijah, join the team for the first time.”

Doug Patterson, the Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association president, added: “I’m confident this trip will be an enjoyable and successful event.”

Allison Watson-Brown and Rebecca White will be travelling as co-team managers.