head-to-head against 20-year-olds.

But medals aren't what count at Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association's first Spring Meet, tomorrow at BASA pool. Swimmers' times -- in particular how they relate to the tough standards required to make the grade for the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) championships in July -- are what's at stake.

"Primarily it's a meet to find out how training has been going and focus on what it takes to get close to these qualifying times,'' said BASA spokesperson Jill Farge.

Twenty-six events are on tap, beginning at 1 p.m., and all of them are open, meaning age divisions are tossed aside.

Only three Bermuda swimmers have met the qualifying times for Cuba and all three are currently attending school in the United States. Stephen Fahy is at Yale University, Trevor Ferguson is at the University of Connecticut and Matthew Hammond attends Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts.

While most swimmers technically won't be competing against each other, at least three of the Island's best hopes will go head-to-head in the boys 15-17 age group. Ronald Cowen, Stephen Troake and Trevor Nelson will continue their rivalry in addition to trying to meet the Cuba standards.

The last chance to qualify will be the Bermuda national championships in June.

In the meantime, the national squad heads to Canada in two weeks for a taste of long course swimming at the Liberty Mutual Championships at the University of Waterloo (Ontario).

Top local swimmers will now have more chances at competing abroad after sport's world governing body (FINA) announced this week that the world championships would be held every two years instead of every four.