Olympic hopefuls from the US will ratchet up the competition in next month’s Bermuda Powerade Track and Field Championships at the National Sports Centre.A total of 18 US athletes, many of who will compete in upcoming Olympic trials, will take on Bermuda’s best at the annual two-day event from June 15 to 16.It’s hoped the visitors will help coax top performances from those Bermuda athletes still looking to book their tickets for this summer’s London Games.So far, only long jumper Tyrone Smith, who will be competing on local soil for the first time, has met the Olympic standard although Arantxa King (long jump), Aaron Evans (800m) and Tre Houston (100m and 200m) hope to join him.Bermuda Track and Field Association president Donna Watson believes an injection of overseas talent will add another level of excitement to the Championships.“Some of these athletes will be competing in the US Olympic trials and they have also competed against some of our (overseas-based) senior athletes,” she said.“We have had other (US) athletes interested but we have a set budget for the Championships so we have had to turn them down as we are providing travel and accommodation.“We figure we can start small this year and attract even more.”Providing stiff competition for long jumper Smith will be his training partner Christoper Gills from Houston and Jeffrey Henderson from Birmingham, Alabama.David Satkin, a sprint stablemate of London-based Houston, will compete in the 100 and 200 metres, while Shianne Smith will be up against Reny Colton, Shereese Cutler and Annett Wichmann in the hepthalon.Arantxa King will bring her Stanford University team-mates Jamesha Youngblood and Brittni Dixon-Smith to compete against her and Jasmine Brunson in the long jump.In the middle distances, Sierra Clayton, Aaron Dudley, Ester Vermeer and Mary Quiett will take on Bermuda’s Aaron Evans, Shaquille Dill, Taylor-Ashley Bean and Ashley Berry.Watson believes the US contingent will bring out the best of Bermuda’s elite athletes.“Several of these athletes are trying out for the US Olympic team. Taylor-Ashley Bean will be able to show off her stuff as there will be several females competing with her in the 800 metres,” she added.“Tre Houston will have plenty of competition in the 100 and 200 metres as there are competitors coming in for those events.”Also lined to compete at the Championships are Carifta Games medallists Justin Donawa (long jump and triple jump), Juma Mouchette (1,500m and 5,000m) and Shaquille Dill (800m).Olympic 1,500m hopeful Lamont Marshall will run the 800m, while last week’s May 24 Marathon Derby female winner Ashley Estwanik will look to break the national 5,000m record.