The CARIFTA dreams of 11 athletes are in limbo after their coaches unsuccessfully tried to get them into the national training squad yesterday.

The group ? ten from Mid-Island Striders plus Flora Duffy ? must await the outcome of a meeting of Bermuda Track and Field Association?s (BTFA) directors before learning if they will be on the track or in the stands when the junior, regional classic is held here in Easter.

?We took our athletes over and we spoke to Mr. Gerry Swan, the national coach, who informed us that because of the lateness of our team joining the national squad that they will not be allowed on the squad until a meeting of the directors.

?After that we will be informed whether or not our athletes will be allowed to join the team. So, for the time being, we will continue training our athletes as we normally do,? said Mid-Island?s assistant coach Renalda Swan, relating what happened at the National Sports Centre yesterday afternoon.

He, fellow coaches Tony Bean and Steve Burgess and Mid-Island president Dave Matthew described the conversation with Gerry Swan as ?cordial but short and sweet . . . to the point?.

As that was taking place in front the grandstand, the athletes in question stood on the infield waiting to hear their fate.

When approached for his perspective on the issue, national coach Swan declined comment as he put members of the national squad through various workouts.

Burgess, who coaches Duffy, joined forces with Mid-Island to try and get one of the Island?s leading young athletes into CARIFTA following a change in her competition plans.

?Flora is probably one of the best ? if not the best ? middle-distance runners to come along in years.

?She was unavailable previous to this time due to the fact that she was training for the World Junior Triathlon Championships. Subsequent to her exam schedule she is not going to be able to go there now so this is her next opportunity to compete for Bermuda and she has said she would like to compete at CARIFTA since she can?t go to the Junior Triathlon Championships.

?I?m sure they can definitely use Flora?s services for Bermuda to strengthen the middle-distance category,? he said.

The coach reasoned that with her recent success in the Front Street Mile and the fact that she has been in serious training since September, there can be no question about Duffy?s fitness.

Both the 16-year-old Warwick Academy student and Burgess hope the differences with the BTFA can be resolved amicably.

?It would mean a lot to me because I love representing my country in any sport that I do, especially at home in front of the home crowd,? said Duffy whose choice event would be the 1,500 metres and thereafter ?anything else?.

Berkeley Institute?s Whitney Matthew is also optimistic of getting her shot in the 400 metres for which she met the qualifying mark in New York recently. The 14-year-old is among Mid-Island members who opted to train with their club rather than join the national programme by the last December 15 deadline.

Howard Ascento, Melissa Clarke, Joella Foster, Keira Hill, Shianne Smith, Erek Fox, Keimar Clarke, Raisa Tuzo and Tamesha Wolfe are the other Mid-Island athletes whose names are now also being submitted for the CARIFTA Games.