Bermuda duo Arantxa King and Aaron Evans served a message of intent ahead of next month's CAC Games with both athletes claiming medals at the NCAA Championships.

Long jumper King scooped the silver medal with a personal best leap, while Evans broke the one minute 47 second barrier for the fourth time this season to take the bronze in the 800m.

Stanford junior King soared into second place with a jump of 6.57 metres on her fifth attempt to finish behind University of Texas El Paso's Blessing Okagbare, who won the event with a jump of 6.79 metres on Saturday.

The previous night at the legendary Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, University of Georgia's Evans posted a time of 1:46:87. He was pipped to the finish line by winner Andrew Wheating (1:45.69), and Robby Andrews (1:46.83).

Bermuda Track and Field Association (BTFA) president, Donna Watson, said she was sure former world youth champion, King, had been inspired by Evans' podium finish on Friday.

"What fantastic accomplishments by two Bermudian athletes to finish in the top three of all US colleges and universities," said Watson. "Going into the long jump event Aranxta was ranked sixth . . . I'm sure her hometown boy Aaron inspired her.

"We're really in good standing for medals for the NACAC Under-23s and CAC Games. (Bermuda) track and field is just getting better and better."

Evans was cheered on by his father Freddie Evans and former Bulldog star Steve Burgess, whose national 800m record he shattered last month.

University of Georgia's head coach, Wayne Norton, said: "There was the last indoor and outdoor national champion and an Olympian in the race and I told (Aaron) that what he accomplished today came against big-time talent.

"He had a great first year at Georgia and what excites the coaching staff is that he just got better and better as the meets got more and more important during the year.

"Aaron finished up as one of the top guys in the country and that's where he deserves to be. Hopefully this will give him more confidence to improve in the coming years and give coach (Jeff) Pigg some validation for what he is trying to get done at Georgia."

It has been a memorable season for Evans who last month smashed his own Bermuda record in the 800m just weeks after breaking Burgess' previous best time which had stood for 25 years.

Just a month ago at the PAC-10 Championships, King, placed second in with a leap of 6.34m and set a new Bermuda record in the triple jump with an effort of 12.93m. She placed ninth at last year's NCAA event.

Bermuda long jumper, Tyrone Smith, is another athlete finding his form ahead of next month's CAC Games. Smith competed at a meet in Rice University and broke his own two-year national long jump record with a winning leap of 8.08m.

The Island's chances of chances of winning medals at the CAC Games have also increased since regional powerhouse Cuba confirmed they would not be participating.

Watson added: "In regards to the CAC rankings, our athletes are sitting in some good positions for medals going into the Games especially as Cuba will not be competing in them.

"Aaron is in third position with two Cuba athletes ahead of him. Shianne is fifth with three Cuba athletes ahead of her. Tyrone is third with one Cuba athletes in front of him and Aranxta is positioned 11th."

The NACAC Under-23 Championships will be held at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar, Florida, from July 9-11, while the CAC Games will be held in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, from July 17 until August 1.

Middle distance runner Chayce Smith has been forced to pull out of the CAC Games due to a hamstring injury.