The Bermuda Track and Field Association has set up an Education Committee to help the Island's track stars obtain scholarships to college. Right now Bermuda has a number of athletes on full or partial scholarships to US colleges and president of the BTFA Donna Watson said: "We have an Education Committee now. We have so many athletes on the verge of going to university and they need to know what will be required of them to secure a scholarship. We set the committee up last year headed by Dr. Freddie Evans (father of athlete Aaron Evans who is at the University of Georgia).

"Dr. Evans was the principal of Whitney Institute and is now in the Education Department. He has met with parents and the athletes who are going away to school in September or may be going off to college in the next couple of years.

"He has had the experience of getting Aaron into school and knows all the different things that must be in place. He has talked to the parents and athletes about what will be needed and he has emphasised to them that you can have all the (athletic) talent in the world but your grades must be there. The athletes and their parents must be told what will be needed from the education standpoint. And you can get a college education through sport."

And Ms Watson knows first hand how to get that expensive education paid for by a scholarship as she went on a full scholarship herself back in the mid-1970s to Jackson State University.

"I was one of about six who went off in 1975 on scholarship to Jackson State. I suppose from the presidency (of the BTFA) standpoint I am a little different because I have been down this road. I know exactly what is involved," said the former middle distance runner who last competed for Bermuda at the 1991 Pan Am Games in Cuba.

"I got a full scholarship to Jackson State and received my degree in computer science with a minor in mathematics. And they (the college) paid for everything. So when I talk to the athletes I can say to them 'I have done this myself'.

"And I really try and impress on them that they must have good grades to get that scholarship. The school may be looking for a sprinter or a long jumper but if your grades are poor you will not get that scholarship."

Ms Watson said they are also looking at junior colleges (two year institutions) for those athletes who are "not up to par".

She said: "The opportunities are there for our student/athletes."

She has also enlisted the help of former Bermuda athlete Branwen Smith-King who has been at Tufts University for many years and is the college's Assistant Director of Physical Education, the women's track coach and the senior women administrator.

"She was the manager of our track team at the CAC Games this summer and is also advising us about various schools. She not only knows all the coaches in her area (New England) but also around the country and she knows what college is looking for (in a particular athlete)."

Ms Watson took over as president of the BTFA over a year ago and one of the first things she tried to do was get a good relationship going with the various track clubs in Bermuda.

But she would also like to have a better relationship with the gym and PE teachers from Bermuda's schools.

"And I also think that more sports should be played in school. I know some schools have one season of sports – the next term they don't do any gym classes."

Most of those athletes coming into the national programme are coming from the track clubs.

"While we are always watching interschool sports for athletes most of the better ones have already found a track club. They are going to the Flyers, Pacers, Striders, the Trojans and are training with the likes of (former Olympic sprinter) Xavier James and also with (former national coach) Gerry Swan. Each club caters to different events and different ages and before I became president an athlete who was going to Carifta, the CAC Games, Olympics, Pan Ams for Commonwealth Games had to join and train in the national programme.

"That is not so now. I think that if an athlete has been having a lot of success with a particular coach why make him change just because he or she is competing for Bermuda in the Carifta Games or CAC Games."

Noting that gang activities are increasing in Bermuda, Ms Watson said: "If you are training for Carifta or the CAC Games you do not have time for that (gangs). In fact during the CAC Games this summer in Puerto Rico I remember one of the swimmers coming up to me and he said, 'Ms Watson I am really glad I got myself involved in swimming because when I look at some of those guys involved with gangs they are some of my friends. That is exactly where I would have been (if I wasn't swimming). I am up at 6 in the morning and now I have a swimming scholarship'."

Ms Watson added: "I tell these kids that if you train hard and are dedicated you can not only get a scholarship but also travel around the world (competing for Bermuda). That's what I did."