A year after coming away with five medals in Barbados, Bermuda Track and Field Association have named what they believe to be a strong team of 12 athletes for this year's CARIFTA Games which will be held in the Bahamas on March 30 and 31 and April 1.

This year's contingent represents one more than last year with the majority of those who competed in Barbados having again qualified. But national coach Gerry Swan cautioned that several would be challenged by being placed in the older age division this time around.

"Naturally we feel that Bermuda has yet again another good squad," said Swan. "I think there are some athletes who can win medals, but we have to remember that the dynamics this year are different. While we have close to the same sized squad with many returning, a number of athletes will be moving up from the Under-17 to the Under-20 age group which will obviously be far more competitive."

Included in this group are Tiffany Eatherley, Shar-Dae Whitter, Crystal Hayward, Zindzi Swan and Richard Walcott. The latter, a first year student at North Carolina A&T University, and James Bergl, who attends school in England, are the only members of the team not on the Island.

Swan said he was confident all of those chosen would give a good account of themselves.

"I certainly expect them to do their best", he added. "You can never guarantee medals because everybody else is out there competing for the same thing. But I am looking for success and success can be measured in different ways. People use medals as the only criteria for success but that's not always the case."

One athlete, Zindzi Swan has qualified in four events - high jump, long jump, triple jump and 100 metres - but will only compete in the high jump and long jump.

Some consideration was given to her entering the triple jump but that has been ruled out, Swan insisting that another event would be too much for an individual in the space of three days.

"It would be too much for her at that level given the quality of the competition. She will now be getting a rest between the high jump and long jump whereas if we had her competing in the triple jump she would be involved three straight days and there could be some fatigue element building up by the time she got around to the third day," said Swan.

The full squad:

Under-17 - Brittney Marshal (shot and discus); Jenny Palmer (800m and 1500m); Latroya Darrell (high jump and triple jump); Husayn Brown (800m and 1500m) Danielle Watson (200m and 400m).

Under-20 - Shar-Dae Whitter (800m and 1500m or 3000m); Tiffany Eatherley (800m and 1500m); Crystal Hayward (shot and discus); Zindzi Swan (high jump and long jump); Richard Walcott (800m and 1500m) Derek Golding (shot and discus);; James Bergl (shot and discus).

The Bermuda team leave for the Bahamas on March 27.