The lightning ?Bolt? of athletics is coming to the Carifta Games!

Jamaican sprinting phenomenon and joint world junior 200 metre record-holder Usain Bolt could give the Carifta Games the ultimate crescendo when, barring any mishaps, he goes for gold in his pet event here about two hours before Sunday?s closing ceremony.

The 17-year-old ? described by athletics world-governing body the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) as ?the future of world 200-metre running? ? is the headline attraction in a formidable Jamaican team which arrives today boasting many juniors with world-leading marks for this year.

Anyone who truly loves athletics will want to be up front and centre at the National Sports Centre for what should be a sizzling performance by Bolt in the Under-20 Male 200 metres final slated for 5.15 p.m.

The defending champion in that event, Bolt was the top athlete at last year?s Carifta Games in Trinidad & Tobago where he blazed to records of 20.43 and 46.35 seconds in the 200 and 400 metres respectively. He was also part of Jamaica?s sprint relay team that won gold in a new Games low of 39.43 seconds and the winning 4x400-metre relay unit which clocked 3:09.70 minutes.

?He won it (the 200) last year in a record (time) and I am expecting him to set a record again this year,? declared a confident Albert Francis, head of the Jamaican Amateur Athletic Association?s (JAAA) Youth Programme, speaking to yesterday.

Carifta apart, a quick glance through Bolt?s astounding achievements shows there?s very good reason to believe Francis will not be eating his words.

The reigning World Junior (Under-20) and World Youth (Under-18) 200-metre champion confirmed his enormous potential last July with a sensational run at the Pan American Junior Championships in Barbados to equal the world junior record in the men?s 200 metres.

Then 16 years old, he had promised ?something special? and delivered with a blistering 20.13 seconds that matched the mark set by American Roy Martin in 1985.

That effort shattered American Clinton Davis? Pan Am record of 20.39 seconds (1982).

Bolt, who is again likely to compete in both relays, has six winning sub-20.50 times to his credit and has been the IAAF?s Male Rising Star for the last two years.

Jamaica?s 63-strong contingent also features other athletes destined for the bright lights. Simone Facey comes to the Games with the fastest 200 metres by a junior female for the year, having clocked 22.71 seconds at Jamaica?s Boys? and Girls? Championships while distance hurdler Sherene Pinnock has a world-best of 58.03 seconds for 2004. Kayon Thompson, an 800-metre specialist, is also the junior world leader in her event. All three girls will compete in the Under 20 division.

Sprint hurdlers Latoya Greaves (silver at World Youth last year), Nadina Marsh and Keisha Brown are also expected to cause fireworks in that age group as are sprinter Renaldo Rose and triple jumper Wilbert Walker.

?We have a very, very strong team with quite a few individuals who are world leaders in their events right now as juniors,? said Francis.

?Our athletes are in record-breaking mode and we are coming to rewrite the record books at Carifta this year. We are always looking to do better because that?s what motivates the kids.?

Jamaica pushed the Carifta bar to new heights last year with a landmark 76 medals: 39 gold, 23 silver, and 14 bronze. Trinidad & Tobago were second with 28 medals and The Bahamas, third with 22 medals.

The Bahamas, who arrive at 3 p.m. today, have fond memories of the last Carifta event hosted by Bermuda as it was the first occasion on which they topped the annual regional meet (with 43 medals). Head coach Rupert Gardiner predicts another big success for their 66 athletes this year saying, if they do not win, they will at least finish in the top three.

Their hopes are pinned on the likes of Aymara Albury (Under-20 Female shot put/discus) and twins Tamara (100/200 metres) and Tavara (200/400) Rigby will be leading the charge this year. Andretti Bain (400 metres), Reginald Sands (shot put/discus) and Grafton Ifill (100/200) will carry the fight in the Under-20 Males.

The best bets in the Under-17 Females are Bianca Stuart (long jump), Alexandria Oembler (100m hurdles/javelin), Michelle Cumberbatch (300m hurdles) and Christina Badmus (800/1500 metres).

Sheldon King (high jump) and Jonathan Davis (100/200 metres) should feature in the Under-17 Males.

Trinidad & Tobago?s assault will be led by defending Under-17 800-metre champion Jamaal James and the 2000 Under-20 800-metre winner Simeon Bovell. The latter is making his final Games appearance and would want to leave with another gold around his neck.

Good things are also anticipated from Wanda Hutson and Kelly-Ann Baptiste in the Under-20 Female 100 and 200 metres while Rhonda Watkins ? who savoured double success in the Under-17 Female long and high jumps before home fans last year ? debuts at Under-20 level.

Another first timer in the senior division, Marcus Duncan, will compete in the 100 metres.

Meanwhile, Barbados? contingent of 30 athletes and five officials touch down in Bermuda at 9.20 p.m. bringing several other regional teams on their charter, including St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Antigua, Guyana, Grenada and Martinique.

The Bermuda Track and Field Association (BTFA) have been unable to give a final Carifta count as entries are still being submitted, disclosed director Roger Lee.