Mid-Island Striders have not missed a pace in preparing their potential CARIFTA athletes ? despite missing the December 15 deadline for juniors to join the national training squad.

Coach Bill Euler said yesterday the athletics club remains committed to helping its members satisfy the CARIFTA standards and compete for Bermuda against the region here at Easter.

"That's our goal. We're not withholding them from CARIFTA. We anticipate them doing well if they qualify and that's what we're working towards ? them meeting the qualifying standards.

"We're hoping they will be able to compete.

"All our athletes fall within the CARIFTA age range (Under-17 and Under-20) and we have between 25 and 30 athletes listed. We have identified ten persons who are on the verge of meeting the qualifying standards, including some who met the standards last year.

"They are doing very well and are right on target as far as where we want them to be now.

"We have a set schedule of different meets which they will be in; how many events they compete in at these meets; a work-out programme; a strength-training programme."

Last weekend a Mid-Island competitor achieved CARIFTA's 'B' standard in the Under-20 long jump at an indoor competition in New York. Shianne Smith placed fifth in the Open/Collegiate Division, leaping 5.35 metres.

Regarding the club's impasse with the Bermuda Track and Field Association (BTFA) over stipulations that all athletes interested in being considered for the Island's CARIFTA team sign up for national training by last December 15, Euler said Mid-Island had received almost 100 percent backing by athletes and parents for resisting this demand.

"So far the kids are pretty happy training with us. We do different training from the national programme. We focus on the whole athlete and not just on winning and we're more personable with our athletes.

"We know what's going on with each of them and what works and what doesn't work for them.

"We have had a few meetings about the situation and the parents have been fully supportive also," he said, adding that only one or two athletes expressed concern about being barred from the annual games because of the club's stance.

Meanwhile, Euler announced that Mid-Island is continuing to develop its talent and the latest venture in that goal was taking members to their first indoor meet at Armory Track in New York.

"We went for exposure and experience of running indoors. We weren't expecting much because it was their first time on an indoor track and this one was also banked (sloping on an incline).

"We just wanted them to do their best and that's what they did. They did quite well for their first time indoors. They came back with some medals and pretty good times so we were pretty excited.

"I don't think a lot of Bermudian youth get that experience and our athletes are looking forward to running indoors again."

Euler stressed the importance of young athletes having this exposure as they would need it if they attend college in the USA.

"They need to know about how to run on an indoor track; the differences that you have to adjust to like your breathing. There's no wind so you have to adjust to that also."

Among those competing in New York were Keimar Clarke (first in High School boys' 60 metres and in top five of High School long jump); Melissa Clarke (third in High School girls' 200 metres) and the girls' 4x200-metre relay team which was fifth out of 80 teams in one minute, 47.6 seconds. Damien Smith was also fifth in the High School boys' triple jump with 11.01 metres.

The Mid-Island contingent also attended workshops on topics such as the best athletics colleges, how to get a scholarship, post-college career options and how to access financial aid.