Local athletes have been served notice on what they need to achieve in order to qualify for next year's CARIFTA Games in St. Lucia.

Bermuda Track and Field Association's (BTFA) standards committee have published the qualifying marks and selection criteria for the April Games, raising the bar in each discipline in order to get the best out of their junior athletes.

The committee consists of national coach Gerry Swan, Mike Watson, Bill Euler, Joy-Ann Clarke and Donna Watson, all of whom have been involved in track and field for several years.

The revamped criteria was sent to all running clubs and PE teachers, and an invitation extended to those BTFA don't know about but might be interested in trying out for Games.

Currently the governing body believe there are 43 possible athletes who could be able to reach the standards, even the new marks are tougher than in previous years.

And the BTFA are hoping that their new initiave will result in Bermuda returning from St. Lucia plenty of medals .

Two standards – 'A' and 'B' – have been declared with the 'A' standard based on the top five times and distances from the finals of each event in last year's Carifta Games.

Finalisation of how the committee are going to set up coaching, training and other issues for the team will be discussed at their next meeting.

Donna Watson said the best way forward was to raise the bar, which would prepare athletes for the international stage.

"I was involved in developing the standards and I feel that with these changes the athletes should be more mentally prepared going to Carifta this year, especially for the athletes that reach the 'A' standard as it will position them from a mental standpoint and know that they will be competitive in their events," said Watson.

"Last year we took 26 athletes to the Carifta Games and with our change in standards, we may end up having more or perhaps less athletes.

"However, we should have more prepared athletes as we are also trying to organise a track meet overseas for the athletes to compete in before Carifta.

"They will also have to work harder to reach the standards this year. We will still use this meet for some of the athletes as an introduction to international competition."

STANDARDS

UNDER-20 MALES

Event A Standard B Standard

100m 10.70/10.5 10.90/10.7

200m 21.80/21.6 22.0/21.8

400m 48.50/48.4 49.60/49.5

800m 1:57.0 1:58.8

1500m 4:10.0 4:15.0

5000m 16:45.0 17:00.0

110m hurdles 15.14/14.9 15.34/15.1

400m hurdles 56.0/55.8 57.0/56.8

High jump 1.95m 1.90m

Long jump 7.00m 6.70m

Triple jump 14.30m 14.00m

Javelin 50.00m 47.00m

Shot Put 14.50m 14.00m

Discus 40.00m 36.50m

UNDER -17 MALES

100m 11.20/11.0 11.30/11.1

200m 22.49/22.3 22.84/22.6

400m 51.00/50.9 52.14/52.00

800m 2:01.9 2:04.5

1500m 4:20.0 4:28.0

3000m 9:55.0 10:15.0

100M hurdles 14.24/14.0 15.04/14.9

High jump 1.90m 1.85m

Long jump 6.41m 6.30m

Triple jump 13.70m 13.20m

Javelin 49.00m 45.00m

Shot put 13.75m 12.75m

Discus 41.00m 37.00m

UNDER-20 FEMALES

Event A Standard B Standard

100m 11.94/11.7 2.04/11.8

200m 24.60/24.4 24.84/24.6

400m 56.00/55.9 57.14/57.0

800m 2:16.0 2:18.0

1500m 5:00.0 5:07.0

3000m (Open) 11:00.0 11:15.0

110m hurdles 15.00/14.8 15.20/15.0

400m hrdles 1:06.00/1:05.8 1:10.00/1:09.8

High jump 1.63m 1.60m

Long jump 5.70m 5.50m

Triple jump 12.00m 11.75m

Javelin 36.00m 34.00m

Shot put 12.00m 11.50m

Discus 34.00m 32.00m

UNDER-17 FEMALES

100m 12.24/12.0 12.40/12.2

200m 25.04/24.9 25.44/25.34

400m 57.50/57.4 58.90/58.8

800m 2:23.0 2:25.0

1500m 5:15.0 5:18.0

100m hurdles 15.64/15.44 16.00/15.8

300m hurdles 47.50/47.4 48.5/48.4

High jump 1.60m 1.57m

Long jump 5.40m 5.30m

Triple jump 11.00m 10.75m

Javelin 32.00m 30.00m

Shot put 10.25m 9.75m

Discus 31.00m 29.75m