Bermuda Track and Field Association chief Donna Watson will be looking to the Island's Carifta Games contingent to go one better this year and improve on their impressive medal haul from 2009's six medals when the event is staged from April 2-5 in Cayman Islands.

The Carifta Games have two age categories, Under-17 and Under-20.

For Bermuda, last year's haul of six was a big improvement from the previous year and set up high expectations going forward.

Last year's medallists Trey Simons and Ashley Berry will again compete in one of the largest squads sent to the Games.

While admitting that gaining experience will still be the main goal for the athletes, Watson also wants to take this opportunity to fine tune the local athletes for future meets.

"I am very excited about the team that has been selected this year," said Watson. "Out of the 22 athletes there are only a few who met the 'B' standard, but the majority of them met the 'A' standard.

"The 'A' standard is based on the results of the top five in the finals of each event.

"I am very excited that for the first time we will be sending a 4x100 metre relay team in the U-17 Boys.

"This is not just a thrown-together team but a team that consist of some of our best 100 metre athletes.

"For the majority of the athletes on this team this is their first international event but we will see how they make out. At least now we have something to build on and develop towards the more senior events."

"Our goal is to fine tune the athletes and get them mentally and physically ready.

"The times, distances that they are performing right now are where we want them to be so it is now in their hands to perform.

"I have been looking at the results of several of the other countries who had their Carifta trials and we definitely have a team who will be competitive."

The team is a mix of local and overseas athletes who are plying their trade in the sport including many Front Street Mile winners.

The athletes will be travelling in just under two weeks time and will be joined by the international athletes that include the likes of Jasmine Brunson, Henry Stevens-Carty, Alexis Bean and Tristan Joynes who are all studying in the U.S.

Travelling in the squad will be Jeneko Place, Trey Simons, Ashley Berry, Christian Wright and Shaquille Dill who all will have huge expectations on their shoulders if the Island are to improve their medal haul.

"Jasmine Brunson has had a great indoor season – and has qualified for the CAC Games and the World Youth Championships. He is, at this time, the only athlete to reach the World Youth Champioships.

"Alexis Bean, one of our medallists from last year, is in her first year at St. John's University and has been putting in some good performances in the 800 and 1500 metre events.

"She got a bronze last year (1500) and I would like to see her improve on her performance.

"Henry Stevens-Carty who is in high school has had a great cross country and indoor season this year, made it to the NCAA finals for in the 800 metres and has been running some great times.

"Any athlete running under 1:55 in the 800 metres in the Caribbean region is a potential medallist at Carifta.

"I am excited to have Tristan Joynes on board who is in high school in Memphis, Tennessee.

"We haven't had a hurdler represent Bermuda in Carifta for a long time.

"This will be Tristan's first Carifta but he participated in the Pan Am Junior Championships last summer and I am hoping to see a great performance from him at Carifta."

On the local athletes set to compete, Watson added: "Jeneko Place who is growing in leaps and bounds in the 100 and 200 metres. He will be competing in the 100 and 200 metres and 4x100 metres Under-17 Boys and Jeneko has been untouchable in Bermuda

"I expect him to be on the podium for both if not one of these events and will also be trying to qualify for the World Youth Olympics this summer.

"Trey Simons, who medaled at Carifta in the 1500 and 3000 metres, is again hoping to repeat his perfomance this year but he has moved to the Under-20. He has qualified well within the qualfiying time and Trey has been unbeatable this year and had a very good season last year where he set new records in the 1500 and 3000 metres in the two track meets that he competed in.

"Ashley Berry medaled at Carifta last year in the 3000 metres and is running up to her potential again this year. In reality she is ahead of the game when compared to last year so we expect her to be on the medal podium in a spot higher than last year as she will be competing in the same event as last year – the 3000 metres.

"Christian Wright who is one of our new additions this year will be competing in the Under-17 Boys Long Jump and is a member of the 4x100 relay. If he can keep it together during the competition and jumps the distance he has been jumping in Bermuda he should also be on the medal podium.

"Shaquille Dill has been putting in some great times in the 800 metres – any athlete running in the 1:55 area has a chance to medal.

"Shaquille has moved from the Under-17 to the Under-20 this year and it might be a slight difference.

THE TEAM

U-17 Girls: Shuntae Hendrickson (1500m), Akeila Richardson (Triple Jump)

U-20 Girls: Alexis Bean (1500m), Ashley Berry (3000m), Alison Outerbridge (Triple Jump), Jasmine Brunson (Long Jump), Taylor Ashley Bean (1500m)

U-17Boys: Juma Mouchette (1500m, 3000m), Kameron Creighton (3000m), Jeneko Place (100m, 200m, 4x100m), Dage Minors (1500m), Daniel Emery (4x100m),

Blaine Simmons (100m, 4x100m), Christian Wright (Long Jump, 4x100m), Bruce DeGrilla (Long Jump), Scott Clarke (4x100m)

U-20 Boys: Trey Simons (1500m, 5000m), Ryan Furbert (High Jump), Henry Stevens-Carty (800m), Tristan Joynes (110m Hurdles), Shaquille Dill (800m), Shawn Herman (5000m)

Management Team: Devon Bean (Head Coach), Michele Williams (Team Manager), Michael Watson (Distance Coach), Bill Euler (Jump/Sprint Coach), Shirlene Dill (Physiotherapist)