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Track and field athletes in the medals again

Bermuda's Tamika Williams celebrates winning bronze in the women's 1500 metres at the National Sports Centre.

Bermuda’s track and field athletes have added four bronze medals to their haul at the NatWest Island Games.The hosts now have 11 medals in athletics with Dage Minors, Rachel Fox, Shianne Smith and Tamika Williams all grabbing bronze in their events at the National Sports Centre tlast night.Williams came third in the women’s 1500 metres to claim her first podium finish at an international event since 2002.The local schoolteacher, who only returned to competing in the last few years after a lengthy hiatus, posted a time of four minutes and 33.57 seconds.Her team-mate Ashley Berry came fourth in 4:35.06, with Western Isles’ Eilidh Mackenzie first in 4:33.26 and Guernsey’s Sarah Mercier third in 4:33.56.Williams, a former Nike Farm Team runner, said: “This is my first time on the podium since 2002 at an international event I’m so excited.“I did feel I was capable of medalling.I did my research before I came in and knew some of the girls had really fast times.“I just had to run a tactical race with them and it was a fun finish, a really fun finish.“The crowd was phenomenal, I wish this many people came out to regular track meets.”Teenagers Dage Minors and Rachel Fox, both making their Games debuts, captured bronze in men’s 800 metres and women’s 400 metres.Minors belied his young years by running an intelligent race against more experienced opponents, finishing in 1:55.79.Donald Macleod of the Western Isles won the event in 1:54.87, with Jersey’s Elliott Dorey second in 1:55.41. Bermuda’s Juma Mouchette was seventh in 1:57.74.Minors, 17, said: “It was a very tactical race and I knew what was going to happen.“These runners are different from the Caribbean guys we’re normally up against. These guys like to sit back and make it a kicker’s race which suits me somewhat.”Fox, who earlier this year signed a letter of intent to attend Winston Salem State University, placed third in the women’s 400 metres in 59.61.Jersey’s Hazel Le Cornu came first in 58.16, with Shetland Islands’ Emma Leask second in 58.59.Fox, 18, said she was encouraged by her performance having only recently recovered from a calf injury.“I’ve had a few injuries so to come back and run a race like that feels good it felt like a good time.“All I wanted to do was make my home crowd proud and win another medal for Bermuda.”Shianne Smith added to the gold medal she won in the women’s javelin on Monday night with a bronze in the 100 metres hurdles.Smith, who was confident of another gold, made a strong start before clipping the second hurdle, effectively ending her chances of victory, finishing in 15.95 seconds.In the men's discus, Bermuda’s Quinn Simmons came fourth with a throw of 35.88 metres.Keeping alive a family tradition, Linda Treiel of Saaremaa won the women’s shot putt with a throw of 14.16 metres, breaking the Island Games record of 12.86 metres set by her mother Virge Treiel in 1997.