A team of budding Bermudian athletes are hoping to do their Island proud when they take on competitors from a host of other countries at an athletics meet in Miami.

Former Bermudian track star Donna Watson will be accompanying the group of talented youngsters to the United States tomorrow for the 32nd Annual Miami Northwest Track & Field Classic.

Athletes of all ages from the Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and throughout the US will participate. The event will be hosted at the Nathaniel Traz Powell Stadium and runs from June 8-10.

Representing the island will be 15 performers, aged between 11 and 15, from the Bermuda Track and Field Athletics team and Flyers Track Club.

Many will be striving to book a place at this summer's IAAF World Youth Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic, and the Pan-Am Games in Brazil by shattering qualifying times.

It is the second year Flyers Track Club coach Watson has taken athletes to the meet and she believes the trip will be prove a valuable experience in terms of their development.

"This year the Bermuda Track and Field Association are making a conscious effort to take young athletes to as many international meets as we can — it's one of our main goals," she said.

"Some of these youngsters are so far ahead of anyone else in Bermuda they need to be tested against athletes from other countries if they are to improve.

"We took a team last summer and it proved to be a valuable experience and we managed to win a couple of medals.

"Once again we will be looking for some encouraging results from our athletes, many of whom will be looking to qualify for the World Youth Championships and Pan-Am Games. It should be a competitive meet."

Among those who will be looking to post qualifying times are 400m/800m runners Darico Clarke, 15, and 12-year-old Shuntae Hendrickson, as well as Ashley Berry, 15, who will be running the 1,5000 and 3,000m.

Many of those jetting off to Miami showcased their talents at the National Track and Field Championships last weekend.

Around 130 competitors descended on the National Stadium to take part in the event, which has fallen off the Bermudian radar in recent times.

And although the annual showpiece didn't attract as many competitors as hoped, organisers hailed the event as a "step in the right direction".

Many subtle alterations were made by the BTFA to stoke up interest and encourage competitors, including increased sponsorship, award ceremonies, properly attired officials and a commentator.

Youngsters from primary, middle and high schools, including those not affiliated to local clubs, were also targeted to perform.