Bermuda’s promising middle-distance athlete Jake Smith is hoping he has learnt the lessons from last year’s Carifta Games when he returns to the event later this month.

Smith, 16, who is representing the island for the second year in a row, finished ninth in the 1,500m in Bahamas but felt poor tactics cost him and he is keen to rectify errors as he prepares to travel to Grenada for the 2024 Games, which takes place from March 31 to April 1.

“Last year I led the race out for most of it but got passed by quite a lot of people in the last 200 metres,’’ Smith said.

“This year I plan on taking the race more slow at the beginning, running behind people and saving as much energy as I can for a sprint at the end.”

Smith has been running a lot this year and won the boys over-16 3,000m at the Bermuda School Sports Federation high schools finals at Flora Duffy Stadium on Thursday morning before competing in the 1,500 and 800 metres at the same venue in the evening.

“The race was challenging in quite hot conditions,’’ Smith said. ”But the hot conditions prepared me for Grenada because it’s going to be hot out there and I’m ready for it.

“I'm quite prepared and I’m really excited to represent Bermuda internationally again. I've been training a lot lately.”