Securing places in junior and senior teams for the NACAC Cross Country Championships in Jamaica in January will be an extra incentive for participants in the upcoming cross country series which kicks off tomorrow at Chaplin Bay.The Bermuda Track and Field Association is hoping to send male and female teams in all age groups to the championships in Mandeville on January 26. To be eligible for selection local runners must compete in at least three races of the series as well as the National Championships on December 8.A new season always brings new enthusiasm and optimism and the recent appointment of Troy Douglas as the national coach has created a new excitement in track and field.“Our numbers have definitely increased, the coaches are overwhelmed with the number of athletes that they have,” said BTFA president Donna Watson.“I guess on Saturday we will get an idea as most of the people who are going to be participating will be there on Saturday. I definitely know that people are excited from Carifta and excited from the Olympics so our numbers have definitely grown. Also, with NACAC moving the cross country to January, that is going to make it much better for us also.”Watson said the new coach is very excited about the upcoming season and looking forward to working with the athletes.“He has already started, he’s met with a couple of athletes and several of the coaches already. He has spoken on the phone to Arantxa (King) who is going pro this year. He has been in the office since Monday.”Douglas and Xavier James will travel to Bahamas next week for a coaching conference while another coach, Devon Bean, will attend a coaching course in Puerto Rico next week.“We are all wound up right now, it’s a new era,” said Watson.The Partner Re 5k race, the second road race of the season, is scheduled for Sunday while the first track meet will take place on January 5, hosted by Trojans Track Club, as junior athletes step up their preparation for the Carifta Games which are scheduled for March 30-April 1 in Bahamas.Cross country schedule(8.30am starts)Saturday: Chaplin BayOctober 6: Astwood ParkOctober 20: Fort ScaurNovember 3: ArboretumNovember 17: Botanical GardensDecember 8: National Championships