There was double pleasure for Chas Smith yesterday as he was crowned both the 2013 Denton Hurdle award winner and national Under-20 high jump champion at the Track and Field National Championships.Smith received his award at the Phoebe Purvis Memorial Hall at Warwick Academy, his alma mater, yesterday evening.Shortly after, he was jumping two metres on opening night at the Championships at the National Sports Centre (NSC).Delighted with his double, he hopes to follow in the footsteps of past winners and move up the competition ladder overseas in the coming years.“It is an honour to win the Denton Hurdle award. It pays tribute to those student athletes that work hard and it shows that people are out there looking at what you are doing and the time and energy you are putting in,” said Smith.“There have been so many past winners that have gone on to have successful careers and hopefully I can follow in their footsteps in the future.“This win was pleasing in the sense that I am the national champion and to win with a personal best tops the day off.“The wind was on and off so I had to time my jumps and in the end it paid off with a personal best.”The awards, honouring the late Denton Hurdle, are used to highlight, recognise and reward the finest primary, middle and senior school student-athletes. Only students in the final year of primary, middle or senior school are eligible for the award.Meanwhile, Shaquille Dill continued his fine form, winning the Men’s Open 800 metres in a time of one minute, 52.82 seconds.Darico Clarke finished second in a time of one minute, 58.46 seconds.Dill was some way off his season’s best time of 1:49.38 he ran at the New Balance Boston Twilight Meet last weekend.Also back to compete at the Championships was Dage Minors who won the Under-20 Boy’s 800 metres in a time of one minute, 54.35 seconds.Bermuda National Athletics Association (BNAA) president Donna Watson said she was happy with the opening night that saw a number of supporters watch the action at the NSC.“The first night was great. When you look at the atmosphere and the athletes’ families being here to support them it shows the sport is continually growing,” she said.“The competition was good overall and with the likes of Chas Smith, Tre Houston and some of our middle distance runners competing, it was great.“Hopefully the weather holds off enough tomorrow (today) for some more exciting racing.”The action continues today at the NSC with the 100 metres starting off the day at 3.30pm.