Bermuda will still be well represented in the event at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, British Columbia, in August.

Two 17-year-olds, Stephen Woodley and Rohaan Simons, have already made history by becoming the first two athletes to represent Bermuda in the same discipline at a major international event -- and they relish the opportunity despite their raw talent.

Neither have come close to matching Saunders' medal-winning leap of seven feet eight and a half inches, but they are by no means overawed at the prospect of following in the footsteps of someone who has become Bermuda's greatest athlete to date as a result of his Commonwealth Games victory in Auckland in 1990.

Both agree that being successful in Victoria doesn't necessarily mean winning a medal, it means to the best of their ability in their first ever major international competition.

"At Commonwealth, Bermuda can look forward to some good things from us,'' said a confident Simons.

"You can only do as good as you can. I will consider myself being a success if I perform to the best of my ability,'' added Woodley.

They are not at all fazed by having to follow Saunders in the high jump arena because they have already achieved the goals they set themselves at the start of the competition year.

The Commonwealth Games is just icing on the cake.

Woodley reached his goal when he jumped seven feet to win the gold medal at the CARIFTA Games in Barbados this year, beating his previous best of six feet eight inches set at the CAC Games in Honduras two years ago.

Simons had set a goal of six feet eight inches going into the year. He reached this so quickly that he had to set another, and this target he accomplished recently with a jump of six feet nine inches to qualify for the Commonwealth Games.

"I feel real confident, I feel as though nothing can stop me as long as I remain dedicated and committed to training hard,'' said Woodley.

"Commonwealth was never in my thoughts, I was very surprised to qualify. I was just focused on the Junior CAC Games in Trinidad this summer,'' said Simons.

National track and field coach Gerry Swan is as proud as a peacock in having the two qualify for the Commonwealth Games and he realises the great heights they are capable of reaching as they continue to develop.

Swan, though, is hopeful that they don't get caught up in hopes of matching the feats of Saunders right now.

"It depends on their own perception if following Nicky will put pressure on them. Given their youthfulness and relative inexperience nobody expects them to perform at the same level of Nicky, Brian Wellman or Troy Douglas. But I have no doubt that they will compete at the best of their ability in Victoria, and that's the most important thing right now,'' said Swan.

Photo: Colin Zuill.

PROMISING YOUNGSTERS -- Stephen Woodley (left) and Rohaan Simons appear to have a bright high-jumping future ahead of them.