Bermuda’s Carifta Games team will fly to the Turks and Caicos Islands next week in search of medals.

Among those in search of podium places will be middle distance runner Matthew Spring, who this week was awarded nearly $4,000 by the Sports Ministry to aid his progress after a highly successful five years in competitive athletics.

Spring will race in the 800 metres, 1500m and 3000m, having won a Carifta bronze in the latter event in 2006.

The Bermuda Track and Field Association yesterday named the 16-strong Carifta team, featuring several athletes who have won medals for the Island at previous Games.

World youth long jump champion Aranxta King will compete in the triple jump and long jump, having brought home a silver medal from Guadeloupe last year.

King also won gold at the CAC Junior Games in 2006.

Another former Carifta medallist, Taijuan Talbot, who won 1500m gold in front of a home crowd at the National Sports Centre (NSC) in 2004 and who is now studying in the US, will run in the Under-20 800m.

Ashley Berry will compete in the 3000m, fresh from breaking the national record in the event in a recent track meet at the NSC.

Under-17 long and triple jumper Jasmine Brunson, making her Carifta Games debut, is also tipped to do well, as is sprinter Harold (Trey) Houston, who will run in the Under-20 100m and 200m.

The team will be travelling with four officials, team manager Donna Watson, coach Gerry Swan and assistant coaches Devon Bean and Sonia Showers. Clarence Smith, of the BTFA, and Carol Bassett will also be accompanying the team. The team departs on April 4.

The event takes place from April 7 to 9, after the the opening ceremony on April 6.

BERMUDA CARIFTA GAMES SQUADUnder-17 girls: Alexis (Bean) Armstrong (1500m, 3000m), Taylor-Ashley Bean (1500m, 800m, 400m), Ashley Berry (1500m, 3000m), Tare Brangman (high jump), Jasmine Brunson (long jump and triple jump), Allison Outerbridge (high jump and triple jump), Jessica Richardson (200m, 400m, 100m).

Under-17 boys: Matthew Spring (800m, 1500m, 3000m), Darico Clarke (400m, 800m)>

Under-20 girls: <$>Arantxa King (long jump and triple jump), Deanne Lightbourne (400m, 800m), Eulane Douglas (100m, 200m).

Under-20 boys: Harold (Trey) Houston (100m, 200m), Sean Trott (5000m), Taijaun Talbot (800m), Kijuan Wilkinson (high jump).