Top Bermuda sprinter Tre Houston has received $15,000 from the Pan Am Games Development Fund to help him prepare for next year's competition to be held in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The grant will enable the 24-year-old to continue his training in London, England, where he has been part of world-renowned coach Tony Lester's sprint stable since the start of this year.

Houston was the beneficiary of a similar grant from the Dehli Development Fund which covered the costs of his relocation to the UK ahead of this summer's Commonwealth Game, in India, where he reached the semi-finals of the 200 metres and set a personal best in the 100m.

Bermuda Track and Field Association (BTFA) president, Donna Watson, said the Bermuda Olympic Association (BOA) would also be making an application for long jumper Tyrone Smith to receive the Pan Am fund.

"I just left the BOA office and was able to send Tre Houston some great news. Similar to how they had the Delhi fund for preparation for the Commonwealth Games they also have a Pan Am fund for preparation for the Pan Am Games," she said.

"Tre has been awarded $15,000 to continue his training with Tony Lester. I sent Tre a text and he said, 'I am so excited we are now going forward'. We will also be applying for funds for Tyrone as well."

Houston told

The Royal Gazette yesterday he was 'blessed' to know he had a strong team behind him.

"My thoughts about earning the $15,000 funding towards Pan Am are that it's a blessing to know I have a strong team behind me, supporting me 100 percent which gives me inspiration to work harder.

"... I can now go into my winter training with much more confidence with my training starting on Monday. I would like to thank the Bermuda Olympic Association (BOA). I can honestly say to any aspiring athletes that there's hope so don't give up, the sky is the limit."

Lester currently coaches Olympic gold medallists Mark Lewis-Francis and Marlon Devonish. He first met with Houston in Bermuda 12 months ago during a visit to the Island to conduct a coaching workshop.

It was former Bermuda track legend Troy Douglas who first introduced Lester to Watson at the World Championships in Berlin in the summer of 2009 where the pair first discussed the possibility of the Great Britain relay coach and Houston teaming up.