Young Bermudian athletes will get some insider knowledge from one of the world's top female sprinters later this month.

Olympic gold (1996) and bronze (2000) sprint relay medallist, Chryste Gaines of the USA, will hold a coaching clinic for junior athletes at Bermuda High School on March 20.

Her visit to the Island is part of the build-up to the third annual Bank of Bermuda Foundation West End Athletic Club Schools' Track & Field Challenge, scheduled for March 22 at the National Sports Centre.

Gaines, who is also a three-time world champion in the 4x100-metre relay, will hold an autograph session at Sports R Us on March 19.

President of West End Clarence Smith explained that Gaines' presence here was in keeping with his club's efforts to revive athletics on the Island, particularly among the youth.

"The idea is to promote track and field and the purpose of her coming is to stimulate an interest in the sport and in our programme.

"During the clinic she can talk to the kids and tell them about what it's like to be in international track and field and what it takes to make it to that level," said Smith, adding that club contacts put them in touch with Gaines.

"She heard about what we're doing and said she would gladly stop off and do the clinic before going on to her own meet.

"She would have been here for our meet except for the fact that there's another meet - in her name - scheduled for that day, so she must be there."

Ranked fourth in the world in the 100 metres last year, 32-year-old Gaines is among the most decorated sprinters currently on the circuit. A regular face at IAAF Grand Prix competitions, she is number two to Marion Jones in the US 100-metre rankings and has been a sprinting success since high school. Since 1995, the Stanford University graduate has been in the world's top ten for the 100 every year except 1999.

Meanwhile, Smith is optimistic that more schools will participate in the Track & Field Challenge this year which will see primary, middle and high schools competing in their respective divisions. Each school has been asked to enter their top 12 athletes. A champion school will be crowned in each of the three sections. There will also be individual prizes for the top male and female athlete overall. The meet begins at 10 a.m. following an opening ceremony.

"Last year we invited all of the 30-plus schools. We ended up with 22 schools, giving us about 280 kids participating. In the first year, 17 schools participated," noted Smith.

"Our aim is to build this into a major track event and help rejuvenate interest in athletics in Bermuda.

"At one time we were considered the powers in track and field in the Caribbean. The first time we had CARIFTA Games here we won it and the second time we were in the top three. Now, we really don't have the number or calibre of athletes that we had at that time."

Future plans for expanding the meet include inviting Bermuda's overseas athletes and college kids from the US to compete.