When an up-and-coming athlete wipes 20 seconds off his 800 metres time in the space of three years it tends to attract the attention of US collegiate track and field coaches looking to strengthen their teams.

Bermudian Aaron Evans has demolished his former best time for the two-lap event to just one minute 54 seconds. Now he has been snapped up by the University of Memphis, which is offering a scholarship and education in return for Evans being part of the university's rebuilt NCAA division one track squad.

This week, only days before he flies to the Carifta Games with the rest of the Bermuda Track and Field Association national team, the 18-year-old signed a letter of intent to accept the offer to start at the US university this September.

And national team coach Gerry Swan said he believed the teenager was on track to qualify for both the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the 2012 Olympics.

Evans is no stranger to competing at international level, having been a 800m finalist in the 2005 Carifta Games, competing in the most recent Carifta championships in Trinidad and Tobago and reaching the semi-finals of the World Youth Championships last year.

His personal bests include a flat 50 seconds for 400m and a 16.11 for 5K.

He has a strong sports background, but it is track running - and the 800m in particular - that is now his primary focus. Both his parents are educators, with his father Freddie Evans principal at Whitney Institute. His mother Gina Evans was a successful athlete herself during the early 1980s and still holds the national junior 1,500m record, like Aaron her speciality was the 800m.

As he signed his letter of intent, Evans said he had taken local inspiration from the Donawa brothers Albert (Jay) and Michael, as well as Larry Jr and Lamont Marshall, Steve Burgess and Mike Watson, national coach Gerry Swan and his current US college coach Sterling Ince.

At the upcoming Carifta's he said he wanted to "get to the final and a run a personal best and maybe get a medal."

For all his athletic aptitude Evans education does not take a back seat, as is evident from his near perfect 1560 SAT score at Massachusetts' Cushing Academy. At the University of Memphis he intends to study towards a pre-law degree and possibly a second 'business-related' degree.

He is aware that he fits into the ambition of university middle distance track coach Mike Power's plans to build a successful 800m squad competing in NCAA division one.

"I went there in November. They are rebuilding their programme from the ground up. They are looking to get some good 800m runners," said Evans.

BTFA president Clarence Smith said Aaron represented the positive side of young people and what they can achieve. He said: "I'm pleased to say that Aaron and the (national) team are trying to do the right thing and not get mixed up in the wrong thing." He wished the youngster well in his future progress and passed on a similar message from US-based Bermudian middle-distance ace Michael Donawa.

National coach Swan said he had seen Aaron lower his 800m time by 20 seconds in the past three years as a result of dedicated training with the national team, as well as with Bermuda Pacers Track Club. He added: "It is nice to see a young male adult continue to improve in significant areas to help him in his life."

Aaron's mother Gina, said: "This is something he has worked hard for. I'm pleased that he is able to do this. He has excelled in almost every sport he has done and, as a former athlete, I'm excited that he has chosen my sport and my event to get his track scholarship. He sets goals for himself and works to achieve them."