While the turnout of athletes remained disappointing, the performance of some of Bermuda’s young stars at the weekend’s National Track and Field Championships left organisers pointing to a prosperous future.

Around 130 competitors descended on the National Sports Centre to battle it out at the once prestigious event, which has failed to capture the interest of Islanders in recent times.

Organiser Donna Watson had been hoping to erase the embarrassment of last year’s event, which experienced a particularly poor attendance from athletes.

And while some disciplines were still contested between a paltry amount of competitors, the former Bermudian track star insisted the 2007 championships had been a “step in the right direction”.

The competition’s standout performer was arguably Alexis Bean who qualified for the World Youth Championships with a personal best time of 2.15 in the women’s 800 metres on Saturday.

The 16-year-old, who set a new national record in the open women’s 3,000 metres at the Carifta Games in April, will now be heading for this summer’s IAAF event in Ostrava in the Czech Republic.

Watson, who also coaches at the Flyers Track Club, hailed Bean’s performance as evidence of the abundance of athletic talent in Bermuda.

Other eye-catching displays came from two young athletes who have already qualified for the World Youth Championships.

Aaron Evans, 17, narrowly defeated 16-year-old Matthew Spring, who also won medals at the Carifta Games, in a nail biting men’s 800 metres race on Saturday.

The Bermuda Track and Field Association (BTFA) had responded to last year’s fiasco by making a conscious effort to promote the two-day competition by making subtle alterations, with increased sponsorship, award ceremonies, properly attired officials and a commentator.

And Watson said she had been left buoyed by the organisation of the event as well as the quality of displays by junior athletes.

“We needed to see an improvement on last year’s event and I firmly believe that has been the case,” she said.

“Well over a hundred athletes took part, many of them teenagers, and that’s a step in the right direction.

“You have to start somewhere and hopefully this will provide us with a platform to build upon.”

While road running has continued to prosper with the May 24 Half-Marathon Derby enjoying an impressive field of over 600 runners, its track and field sister has struggled in comparison.

Attempts had been made by Watson to encourage athletes who pounded the Island’s road on Bermuda Day to sign up for the championships, but she admitted her calls had fallen on deaf ears.

“It’s slightly disappointing we didn’t see the 5,000 and 10,000 metre runners who ran on Bermuda Day compete this weekend,” she added.

“With the Island Games forthcoming I thought some might have used the championship’s as a warm-up.”

Echoing Watson’s sentiments was BTFA president Clarence Smith who admitted athletics faced a tough task competing with rival sports in attracting youngsters.

“I wasn’t overly pleased with the turnout but it’s to be expected,” he said. “Many youngsters probably chose to play football or cricket this weekend instead.

“But I have been very impressed with the talent on show and this year’s event was definitely better than 12 months ago.”