Record breaker Aaron Evans is confident of a significant improvement in Bermuda's medal haul at next month's Carifta Games in St. Lucia.

Evans won the Island's only medal - a bronze ¿ at last year's Games in St. Kitts in what was a disappointing return for Bermuda, but the 19-year-old envisages far more podium action this time around.

A gold medal and a new 800m record for the competition are Evans' personal targets, which he hopes to add to the national indoor record he smashed last month in what's developing into a memorable season for the Memphis University middle distance runner.

"I've set myself two targets at Carifta; winning the gold medal and breaking the Games' 800m record," said Evans, who was named in Bermuda's Carifta squad earlier this week.

"I won the bronze last year but I've improved a lot since then so gold is definitely a realistic target for me.

"Last year's Carifta Games was a bit disappointing for Bermuda but I think it will be a whole lot different this time. Our team medal total will be a lot higher in St. Lucia than it was in St. Kitts, that's for sure."

Other local athletes gunning for medal glory in the Caribbean will be sprinter Tre Houston and long distance ace Matthew Spring, according to Evans. Houston made the final of Carifta last time setting a personal best in the 100m and finishing fifth.

Whereas Spring is no stranger to the Carifta podium having already bagged three medals in the past.

"Most of the Under-20 athletes should be pushing for medal ¿ especially the likes of Tre Houston and Matthew Spring," said Evans. "And there's a some really talented younger guys also, such as Ryan Furbert and Trey Simons ¿ those guys have lots of potential."

Evans, who has already qualified for the Pan Am Junior Championships in July, is now ranked number two freshman in America.

He said working with a sprint coach and exposure to higher class competition at college level had helped him improve since last season.

And his overall aim is to make similar inroads on his times outdoors and qualify for the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the London Olympics in 2012.

"One of my main goals now is to reach the NCAA Division 1 in the outdoor 800m as I just missed out in the indoor.

"The 2012 London Olympics is a long-term goal for me and my coach, and I think other Bermuda athletes likes Tre Houston will also have similar aspirations to get there."

Team manager Donna Watson said Bermuda's team had a good mix of youth and experience and should be targetting at least three medals.

"I'm very pleased with the team that has been selected.

"It's a well-balanced team with experience and youth.

"I feel that we should be able to surpass our medal total this year with more than ome medal.

"We should get I would think more than three medals this year.

"Of course there are some athletes that we have high expectations for but we will see on the day.

Watson has predicted surprise performances from newcomers Jeneko Place and Henry Stevens-Carty.

"We have some athletes participating for the first time but I think we may see some surprises from Jeneko Place and Henry Stevens-Carty," she said.

The Carifta Games will take place in St Lucia from April 11-13, at the George Odlum Stadium in Vieux Fort.

Bermuda's team

Under-17 women: Megan Berry (3000m), Shuntae Hendrickson (400m, 800m), Keshuntay Graham (100m, 200m), Taylor Ashley Bean (800m, 1500m), Shawnae Brangman (100m, long jump), Akilah Richardson (triple jump)

Under-20 women: Alexis Bean (800m, 1500m), Ashley Berry (1500m, 3000m), Alison Outerbridge (triple jump), Jasmine Brunson (long jump, triple jump)

Under-17 men: Trey Simons (3000m, 1500m), Juma Mouchette (1500m), Kameron Creighton (3000m, 1500m), Ryan Furbert (800m, 400m, high jump), Jeneko Place (100m, 200m), Shaquille Dill (800m, 400m)

Under-20 men: Tre Houston (100m, 200m), Aaron Evans (800m), Matthew Spring (1500m), Sean Trott (5000), Darico Clarke (400m, 800m), Kyle Virgil (100m, 200m, 400m), Henry Stevens-Carty (1500)