Aaron Evans is under no illusion as to what he will be up against when he represents Bermuda at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The middle distance runner has been with Nike Oregon Track Club Elite since graduating last year from the University of Georgia in Athens and the experience has put him in good stead ahead of his first major Games, even if the time on the track has been limited because of injury.

“This season has been an important one more for the things I’ve learned off the track then on,” Evans said. “Unfortunately I have only had the opportunity to race three times because of injuries that have been nagging me for the last few months.

“Training with the Nike team has been a great experience, letting me know what it really takes to be a world-class athlete. I’ve never been on a team where I wasn’t the fastest person in my event and coming here I have so many people ahead of me pushing me to be better.”

Evans will compete in the 800 metres along with another young middle distance runner, Shaquille Dill. The pair were team-mates at the inaugural IAAF World Relays held in the Bahamas in May.

“The IAAF World Relays was amazing, being part of the inaugural Relays is something that I’ll never forget and being able to be there with three other runners that I grew up with and have known all my life made it that much more special,” Evans said.

“Everyone on our team ran their hearts out and that made me more proud than anything.

“I am excited to be participating in my first Commonwealth Games; the 800 metres at these Games will be one of the premier events to watch on the track.

“It will be good practice for me to be in a race of this magnitude. Not having many races under my belt, I plan on taking it one race at a time, and running my preliminary as if it was a final.”

Middle distance running has shown to be Bermuda’s strength in track and field and Evans has some big shoes to fill. Running is in his blood as his mother, the former Gina Smith, was a top middle distance runner in her heyday.

Evans, who broke Steve Burgess’s 800 metres national record and the UGA record in 2010 after running 1min 46.26sec in North Carolina, will be part of a six-member athletics team in Glasgow.

The national record held by Burgess had stood for 25 years with his time of 1:47min 64 sec set in Atlanta, Georgia in 1985, a few years before Evans was born.

“His international record speaks highly but he hasn’t had any senior international competition as of yet,” said Burgess, who describes Evans as a “Facebook buddy”.

Burgess added: “This will be his first Commonwealth and he hasn’t gone to the Olympics yet. He’s done well in all the collegiate competition and this will be his next step up for him. When you put it in perspective, he’s always been competitive.

“Making the final will be significant; he’ll be up against Kenya who are very strong in the middle distances traditionally and his competition will be significant. He’s training with the best, they’re bringing you along in a system that is tried and proven.

“He was hurt right after college and then went into this programme, so Bermuda will see the best of Aaron in years to come.”

Sponsorship from Bermuda Healthcare Services and MAAC has enabled Evans to train in Oregon where the high level of running has helped him considerably as he faces the challenges of training and competing. Bermuda Healthcare Services are also providing for Arantxa King and Tyrone Smith to enable them to train overseas full time.

“I’m very grateful for the sponsors I have,” Evans said. “It literally would not be possible to train overseas without them.

“They’re not just investing in me but in the community and our future in athletics. When the youth see me pursuing a professional track career, it lets them know that it’s possible to do the same and gives them a goal to be as good, or if not better then me.

“Track is an individual sport but it’s so important to have a team of good people supporting you not just financially but emotionally.

“It’s been a roller-coaster ride for me but I always have good people in my corner who genuinely want to see me win, so everyday when I’m grinding it out in training, I do it for them.”