Hurdler Tristan Joynes crowned his international debut by running a personal best at the Pan-Am Games Junior Championships in Trinidad, writes Stephen Wright.

Competing against top quality junior athletes, Joynes finished third in his heat last Friday but his time of 14.85 seconds was not enough to qualify for a place in the finals.

Another Bermuda athlete to post a personal best at the prestigious biennial event was sprinter Jeneko Place who finished in a time of 10.82 in the third heat of the 200 metres. Place, who recently won a silver medal at the Island Games in Aland, then placed sixth in the semi-finals of the 100 metres.

Also on Friday, the opening day of the event, Ashley Berry placed eighth in the 1500 metres with a time of 5:24.25, while Alexis Bean finished ninth in 5:32.6.

On Saturday, Place placed third in heat one of the 200 metres with a time of 21.94, Tre Houston ran the 200m in 21.57 to finish fourth in heat three, Darico Clarke posted a time of 2:28 in the 800m to take fifth place in heat one, while Henry Stevens-Carty ran the 800m in 1:54.51, coming fourth in heat three.

None of the athletes advanced to the Championships finals.

Burgess hailed by Beckham

Tyrell Burgess' first ever goal for Vancouver Whitecaps made sports channel ESPN's top ten plays and was praised by studio guest and England star David Beckham.

Burgess struck an audacious 35-yard goal in the USL-D1 defending champions' 3-1 victory at Rochester Rhinos on Friday night.

The Bermuda international told The Royal Gazette he was "shocked" to see his effort broadcast on ESPN and even more surprised to hear LA Galaxy midfielder Beckham's complimentary words.

Burgess played 90 minutes in Whitecap's goalless draw at Cleveland City Stars on Saturday.

Former North Village winger Burgess has made 11 appearances for Whitecaps so far this season.

Sims misses cut

Pro golfer Michael Sims' up and down season on the Nationwide Tour took another dip as he failed to make the cut at the Children's Hospital Invitational in Columbus, Ohio.

In fact, he posted his worst performance of the season, placing 134th in the 144-strong field.

Starting the week, Sims was 74th on the Tour's moneylist but will drop after recording rounds of 74 and 76 at the 7,455 yard, par-71 Ohio State University Golf Club's Scarlet Course.

He's expected to play in this week's $550,000 Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open at the Crestview Country Club in Wichita, Kansas.

Tennis at the Bay

Horseshoe Bay will be the venue for the second annual Bermuda Beach Tennis International Tournament from September 11-13.

The sport, which has been growing rapidly over the last year with avid tennis player Tony Brannon one the local organisers.

Several players from overseas are expected to fly in for the Bermuda event which will offer $2,500 for the winner of the men's pro event.

In the local tournament, a beach party is planned featuring the Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band.

BGA are the title sponsors.