against others from the US next week.

The youngsters are all members of the Mid Island Strollers track club, which was formed towards the end of last year by American athlete Bill Euler.

The club has 11 members at present, including top junior runner Korvon Tucker, but just seven of them will make the trip to the US.

Warwick Academy students Kendia Gill, Kendell Webb and Cheri Minors will be joined by Knorisha Tucker and Samantha Smith from CedarBridge and graduates, Darren Harvey and Dennis Joell.

Euler will be joined by three coaches for the visit which will take in the University of Florida where the club will compete in the Florida Relays.

They will then compete at Florida State, Florida A and M and the University of Georgia among others.

"I'm from the United States and competed all four years at High School, four years at college and I'm a three-time All American in the long jump for the University of Wisconsin,'' said Euler.

"I started the club back in October with the focus on helping these high school athletes get scholarships and get to see what university life was like.'' Gill will compete in the 100m and triple jump, Webb in the 100 metres, triple jump and long jump and Minors in the long jump.

Smith takes part in the 100 metres and high jump and Tucker the 100 metres and long jump.

Joell will run in the 100 and 400 metres and will compete in the open category against some of the top college students, while Harvey goes in the long jump and high jump.

"We are probably the only outside country going to this meet,'' Euler said.

"I expect them to do pretty well. They have got pretty good attitudes and they have got a lot of potential.

"This is going to be a big experience for them because the training we do in Bermuda is nothing compared to that which the US does.'' Euler said he identified the need for the club after the inter school meet last year.

"I noticed a lot of their times were pretty good and they didn't train,'' he said. "I said if these guys trained they could possibly get themselves some scholarships, so that's why I started doing it.

"To go on the trip and be in the club you have to have a C average, have a good attitude and show potential in the sport. I contact the counsellors and keep track of their grades and have been in contact with their coaches to let them know how they are doing.''