As he prepares to hit the track at the iconic Hayward Field, sprinter Miles Outerbridge has expressed his hope that he will deliver a top-notch performance at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

The Bermudian starts in the preliminary stage of the men’s 100 metres on Wednesday, with a chance to make the semi-finals on Thursday and the final on Friday.

“I’m feeling pretty confident that I can perform well,” Outerbridge told The Royal Gazette.

“This is the best competition I’ve ever run and I’m ready. I’ve never even been out this far ever before, it’s a new challenge and I’m very excited for this meet.”

Outerbridge, who has been preparing for this event at home in Bermuda, is slightly concerned about a recent injury scare after experiencing some pain in his hamstring during training.

“I’m just returning to sprinting after I had an injury and getting back feels really good,” he said.

“It was a small strain in my hamstring tendon, which caused me some discomfort, but before I left Bermuda I did a sprint session and everything went really well.

“I don’t really have a target right now, but it’s just about how I perform. I would like to make the finals or run a PB, but performing the best I can is really the goal.”

Because of the injury concerns, the 100 metres Bermuda record holder is weighing up his options about running in the 200 metres, which comes later in the week.

“Because of this recent injury, I’m just not sure whether it will be smart to do both, because I really don’t want to flare it up again,” the 18-year-old said.

“I’m going to see how the 100 metres feels and depending on how that goes, I’ll see if I’ll proceed with the 200 metres or not.

“My main focus is the 100 right now. I think I have a better chance in that, I’ve run it more this year and I’m more familiar with it.

“I ran a better time, compared with my 200 and I just have more confidence in running well in the 100 than I do in the 200 at the moment and I think I have a better chance of getting to the final in that event.

“The decision on whether I’m running the 200 really depends on how far I can get in the 100. If I don’t make the semi-final or final, I guess it’s determined after that.

“It all depends on how I perform. If I feel like the 100 took a lot out of me and there’s no way back, then I’ll just cut it there and just leave it.”

Most of Outerbridge’s preparations at Flora Duffy Stadium came under the guidance of coach DeVon Bean. With the former 100 metres record holder taking care of Dage Minors and Nirobi Smith-Mills at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Dominican Republic, another coach has been assigned to the rising star.

“Norbert Simons is my coach for the World Championships,” Outerbridge said.

“But all the preparation that I did back home was overseen by coach DeVon Bean. Unfortunately, he’s not here with me as he is at the CAC Games with the other guys.”

Outerbridge is taking on some of the best young sprinters in the world. While Australian sensation Gout Gout has withdrawn through injury, the teenager could still potentially race against Jamaican Gary Card, Nigerian John Caleb, American Tate Taylor and Marko Ferreira, of South Africa.

“I’d say the biggest threat will probably come from the United States because they just produce a lot of quality,” Outerbridge said.

“I think they’re the best athletes. So for me, the US is probably the biggest threat.

“Probably South Africa as well. But I’m confident in my ability to execute my races and do well.”