All eyes will be on teenagers Tyler Smith and Erica Hawley during Sunday’s Bank of Bermuda Foundation triathlon in St George’s.

Smith, however, said he does not feel any extra pressure as one of the favourites.

In the absence of last year’s winner, Neil de Ste Croix who is preparing to compete overseas next weekend, the Bermuda High School student is looking for his first victory in the event after finishing third two years ago.

He was handicapped by a flat tyre and then a one minute penalty for a rule infringement of not wearing a number belt at one of the transitions which cost him second place.

A flat tyre hampered Smith at his most recent triathlon, the Junior Elite Triathlon World Championships in Chicago last month, where a lost bike shoe and flat tyre forced him to withdraw.

Smith is looking to put all that behind him and deliver on a good performance.

“I don’t really feel too much pressure, this is almost a training race because it’s pretty much the off-season for me,” said the Junior Male Athlete of the Year.

“I’m just going out there to take whatever result I get.

“Obviously I’m not expecting to set any record times, just to see where I’m at after taking it easy for a month after the World Championships. I had a flat tyre so it turned into a duathlon, which was obviously pretty disappointing. It was a good experience to see where I need to get to for next year.”

Smith and Hawley represent the latest crop of triathletes looking to follow in the footsteps of Tyler Butterfield and Flora Duffy.

The two 17-year-olds had a busy summer competing overseas, often at the same events, and have come though the junior ranks together as children of well-known triathletes Karen Smith and Julia Hawley.

Erica is one of the favourites to take the vacant women’s title as Karen Smith will not be competing because of an injury that stopped her defending her age group title at the Ironman World Championships.

More than 70 competitors have signed up for the junior and senior races, with Jonathan Herring and Evan Naude expected to be in contention along with Smith.

“It’s going to be interesting to see where I’m at with how little I’ve done over the last couple of months,” Smith said.

“I’m definitely not at peak fitness right now, just trying to improve on my times from previous years which I’m pretty confident I will do.”

Smith is expected to be in a good position after the 750-metres swim around Ordnance Island, before embarking on a 20k bike ride out to Clearwater Beach and the airport roundabout before returning to the town for the 5k run.

“I’m really looking forward to the course, I like racing in St George’s which is a little bit different than what I’m used to,” said Smith, who missed last year’s race.

“Last year, four days after the race, I flew away to the Caribbean Cycling Championships and hadn’t done any swimming or running at that time which is why I didn’t compete.

“This year I’ve also been taking it pretty easy so I don’t know what to expect.

“It varies throughout the season, but I think cycling is probably where I’m strongest at the moment. I hope to develop my running and get that as my strongest discipline because usually it’s the fastest runner that wins these races.

“My swimming is not terrible but it definitely needs some work to be competitive with the top guys.”

The junior races over various distances will start at 8am, followed by the adult races at 9am.