Bermuda Track and Field Association (BTFA) have two primary objectives for 2003: to raise awareness of the CARIFTA Games and to increase the number of athletes participating in track and field locally.

These goals may well go hand-in-hand, says BTFA president Judy Simmons, as the organisation will be embarking on a promotional campaign for CARIFTA 2004 - which Bermuda hosts next year - and this should also be a filip for athletics in general.

The sport, Simmons lamented, is not as well supported as it has been in the past and the BTFA is eager to reverse this downward trend.

"We have a lot of work to do in that area - to get people more in tune with track and field. We need some help from schools because whereas we once had a very strong athletics programme in schools that's not there anymore.

"To that end we have two individuals (Cal Simons and Donna Watson) who have gone to the IAAF Regional Development Centre in Puerto Rico to train in the IAAF's method of encouraging and motivating young people in track and field. We're now putting together things to launch a programme to get more people into athletics; to appeal to more children."

Simmons also indicated that one of the stalwart events of the athletics calendar - the Corporate Relay - had not been laid to rest. Last year, it was postponed because of a clash with the Bank of Bermuda Triathlon series in late September. However, it will be back.

"We don't intend to let it go. It's something that's been going for a while. It's unfortunate that it's clashing with the triathlon calendar but we have rescheduled it for February and we'll be making an official announcement soon," she said.

Reflecting on 2002, Simmons termed 2002 "very successful" for athletics despite no medals or major achievements at international meets.

She highlighted record-breaking performances by a number of Bermudian athletes, the Island's six-medal haul at the regional CARIFTA Games (in the Bahamas) and the country's winning bid for CARIFTA 2004 as the past year's high points.

Lauding the efforts of competitors such as Zindzi Swan (who became the first Bermudian woman to jump six feet in the long jump), Brittany Marshall and Tamika Williams, she noted: "We had very good performances in 2002 with quite a few national records - both senior and junior - being broken and reset. It has been very successful."

In addition, Simmons was delighted that the Island prevailed in a tough battle to stage the 2004 edition of CARIFTA - the annual showpiece of junior, regional track and field. It will be the first time Bermuda has enjoyed this honour since 1980.

"We are planning for CARIFTA and things are coming together very nicely. I am very pleased with the steering committee that we have and the ground that we have covered in the short space of time we've been working on it."

Despite not winning medals at any major world meets last season - such as the Commonwealth Games - Simmons was not disappointed, putting the situation in perspective.

"Everyone was looking at Brian Wellman (triple jumper) and complaining that he hadn't performed well but Brian has been plagued with injuries for a number of years and even though he has injuries he has gone out and given his best.

"It would have been nice if he had been able to medal in some of the senior competitions but we must remember that he did finish in the finals at the Commonwealth Games (eighth). Under the circumstances, I feel we have a lot to be thankful for."

She lamented a similar but more recent setback regarding sprinter Xavier James who got injured just before the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games. He had set a new personal best at the Commonwealth meet earlier in summer.

"I think he was wise not to push himself, with him not being ready for the CAC Games.

"This year I think he will really shine. There are a number of senior events like the Pan American Games (in the Dominican Republic), the International Amateur Athletic Federation's (IAAF) World Championships (in France). So I think he'll be in a better position to show what he is capable of doing."