Tyler Butterfield may be the focus of attention but another nine athletes will be flying the flag for Bermuda at the World Triathlon Championships this weekend.

Butterfield (19) is without question the Island's top triathlete and has proved his ability earlier this year when he represented the nation at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

He will be turning out again at the weekend in Cancun, Mexico when he will be joined by team-mates Matthew Herring, Cathy Lama, Vanessa Madeiros, Karen Madeiros, Cora Lee Starzomski, Steven Petty, national champion Andrew Davis, Jamie Pedro and Jeff Conyers. All will be competing on an individual basis in various age groups over two days of competition.

Herring, who has had a breakthrough year this year winning the Bank of Bermuda Triathlon, coming second in the National Triathlon Championships and again in his category at the London Triathlon in England.

They are just three of the highlights of what has been a long season and he is determined to sign off the year in style in Cancun.

"I haven't been this fit before so I am looking forward to this weekend. I have lost a bit of weight, I am swimming really well right now and my running has got a lot better," said the 16-year-old. "I have been doing my last bit of training in the past couple of weeks, basically just short and fast stuff. Nothing too strenuous."

Herring, racing alongside Butterfield in the junior sprint, said he did not have a firm gameplan but hoped he could get himself in a good position from the off.

"I want to get into the first pack on the swim," he said. "I think I can do that, it's basically a 50/50 chance. Then hopefully I can stay in on the bike and on the run I'll just go for it.

"I have no pressure which is nice. I know I will probably be nowhere near the winner, but I don't mind that, I just want the experience and to do my best.

"I don't know what the course is like but I would like to come in the top 75 percent of the field."

Cora Lee Starzomski came into triathlon late but has impressed on the local circuit this season.

"This is the end of my first year in triathlon so this is big for me," said the Canadian who will race in the 30 to 34 year old category. "I have a swimming background but I wanted to do an Olympic distance triathlon and did my first one last October and that was pretty much it from there."

As she pointed out being in the water is where Starzomski (30) excels. That is followed by cycling and then running which she admits "needs a lot of work".

"I am coached by Dave Morrison and since I have qualified in July I have been training with this as my goal," she said. "I have been trying to work on my speed, both on the bike and on the run."

Her preparations have not always been smooth though.

"I have had quite a few running related injuries in the last little while," she said. "I have pulled muscles, basically just stress and overuse injuries. I guess because it's my first year and my poor old body is not really used to all this."

Starzomski does not have a target in mind but just wants to give it her best shot.

"It's all about having a good, strong race," she said. "I just feel so fortunate to be able to go and to see what it's like to race at this calibre. I am not really focused on where I place, I just want to finish and feel strong."

Fellow female triathlete Karen Madeiros will be competing in the 35 to 39 year old category.

"As a Bermudian I am very honoured and privileged to be representing my country," she said. "I know the competition will be very intense and of a very high level so I am just going to race my best, aim for a personal best and just try and enjoy myself."

For Madeiros this is the culmination of a lot of time and effort.

"I have been training a year for this," she said. "I have been training hard and I am ready to go."

She admits to feeling a little pressure as the race nears.

"In any race you put pressure on yourself but when you are travelling with a team and representing your country of course there is additional pressure and the level of competition is going to be very high so that in itself brings pressure," she said.

"But I am going in there to race my own race. I am not going to race anyone else's race. I will be focused on myself and on trying to achieve my personal best. That's what my aim is."

Steven Petty, meanwhile, is a veteran when it comes to the World Championships.

"I have done seven of the 14 there have been," said Petty who will race in the 50 to 54 category. "One of the reasons I am competing again this year is that I am 50 and I will be in a new age group.

"That's a bit of an incentive. I am new in that age group so hopefully my times will be better."

Petty was one of a group of Islanders who formed the Bermuda Triathlon Association in 1981.

"I used to play soccer and squash, then started running, got into the cycling and had done a bit of swimming in university. It was a real natural fit," he said.

"The sport was just starting out then and the Bermuda organisation is probably one of the oldest."

Petty has been putting in the miles in order to impress in Mexico.

"I have tried to step it up as the season has gone on and put in more and more time as the summer progressed," he said. "It's very conducive to training now. I always say I wonder why we don't have our season more into the winter. For training purpose it is a much better time of year.

"I am in medium shape. I am certainly not where I would like to be but it's difficult when you are working and have your regular parental duties. it's difficult to fit it all in but I am looking to have a good time."