ever to the CARIFTA Games next month.

The 11-member squad, named on Monday night, compete in Bridgetown, Barbados from April 4-6 in the Caribbean's annual track and field festival.

And officials are under no illusions that the team will challenge the likes of Jamaica for the medal title.

"In some ways, this is a team for the future,'' acknowledged Bob Oliver, a BTFA vice president who helped national coach Gerry Swan in the selection of the six girls and five boys.

Only two of last year's 12 CARIFTA competitors are returning: Tariq Hewey, a silver medallist in both the 100 and 200 metres, and Jarita Dill, who picked up a fourth and fifth-place finish a year ago.

But in an indication of the youth of the team, Hewey and Dill are the Island's only entrants in the under-20 division -- even though Dill is 17 and Hewey 16.

The under-17 division sees the other nine team members, including a 12-year-old (800m and 1,500m runner Erica Frith), two 13-year-olds (Richard Walcott and Latanya Dickinson) and four 14-year-olds (Gabriel Wilkinson, Patrina Swan, Janine Scott and Raneika Bean).

Rounding out the squad are 15-year-old sprinters Kondwani Williams and Kemar Curtis.

Selection of the squad was based both on results and attitude, said Oliver.

Youth just happened to be a by-product of that.

"Training, behaviour and performance-wise, they've all met the standards (set by Swan),'' said Oliver. "They're a nice lot of kids.'' Swan, who has already accompanied Bermuda teams to the Caribbean cross-country championships and the World Indoor Games this year, is skipping CARIFTA.

Acting as head coach will be his assistant Gregory Simons.

Other officials heading south are manager Roger Lee, assistant coach Vernall Binns and chaperone Gail Scott.