Five first-timers will represent Bermuda at this year's Carifta Games which starts on Saturday in Grenada.

The nine-member team flew out to the Caribbean yesterday morning, with experienced male athletes Gabriel Wilkinson and Richard Walcott accompanied by seven girls, including a 12-year-old and two 13-year-olds.

"We have a fairly strong team but keep in mind it's a young team,'' said national coach Gerry Swan. The two other officials accompanying the team are manager Roger Lee and chaperone Judith Simmons, president of Bermuda Track and Field Association.

Walcott brought back Bermuda's only medal last year from Martinique when he won the silver in the under-17 800 metres. This year marks the first time that Walcott will compete in the under-20 division, as he tackles the 800 and 1500 metres.

Wilkinson, who also performed well last year without winning a medal, will take part in the under-20 shot and discus events while Latanya Dickinson will compete in the under-20 girls discus and shot.

All the other members of the team are in the under-17 division, with Shar-Dae Whitter competing in her second Carifta Games in the 800 and 1500 metres. Last year she had two top eight finishes and will be in confident mood after three wins at last week's inter-school sports for CedarBridge Academy.

The other youngsters will all be making their debuts as Grenada host the Games for the first time. Crystal Hayward (14) will compete in the shot and discus, as will Brittney Marshall, who is the daughter of cricketer Charlie Marshall.

At 12, Marshall will be one of the youngest participants at Carifta, but coach Swan is expecting good things from her. "She is probably the best female shot putter on the Island right now, even outperforming Latanya Dickinson,'' he said. "She had a PB of 12.12 metres this past weekend and it seems every time she performs she is improving her personal best. Performances she has registered would have placed her in the top five or top six in Carifta last year.'' The two 13-year-olds, Michelle Trott and Danielle Watson, will compete in the 100 and 200 metres and 200 and 400 metres respectively. Zindzi Swan (15) will compete in the high jump.

Whitter, Swan noted, has also steadily brought her time down in the 1500 metres, having recently recorded a PB. "She recorded 5:24 in the Carifta final last year and got in the top eight which at that time represented an improvement of 20 seconds,'' said Swan.

"This year she has run times of 5:09 on more than one occasion and we're looking to improve even on that at Carifta. For Brittney, Danielle and Michelle, they will be competing against athletes 15 and 16, but they have earned selection and we feel they will be able to hold their own.'' Walcott has consistently been around the 1:57, 1:58 mark in the 800 metres as this year's team have enjoyed better preparation than the 1999 team which had to deal with the National Stadium being closed from June '98 to February '99.

The opening ceremony will take place tomorrow with competition on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.