Bermuda Pacers bring home 31 medals from prestigious Ontario track meet
Bermuda Pacers Track Club made their presence felt at the Flying Angels International Track and Field Championships in Ontario, Canada.
The local team earned a remarkable 31 medals, including nine gold, and placed fifth among more than 90 teams in action at last weekend’s meet, which was held at the York University Track and Field Centre in Toronto.
Leading the charge was distance runner Jaeda Grant, who won gold in the 3,000, 1,500 and 800 metres on the way to being crowned girls champion in the 15-16 age group.
“I am very proud of my performances throughout the weekend ,” the 14-year-old told The Royal Gazette.
“I was really scared going into the 3,000 and was in fifth place for the majority of the race. I knew I had to push really hard on the last lap, which was very exciting for me.
“I had to fight my hardest to get the gold medal in the 1,500, which I knew was my race, so I ran really quick.
“In my 800, I didn’t have much competition but I knew I still had to go fast so I can maintain the gold streak.”
The Saltus student and Carifta Games medal winner, who also set meet records on the way to winning the 3,000 (11:03.53) and 1,500 metres (5:01.48), far exceeded her expectations heading into the championships.
“I was hoping to just do my best and at least place in all of them,” Grant added. “After I realised the competition wasn’t too hard, I was trying to win all my races.”
Others earning gold in individual events were J’auza James, Amaris Munya and Malik Paynter.
James won the under-20 boys 800, Munya the 13-14 girls 800 and Paynter the under-15 boys long jump.
The team’s remaining gold medals were achieved in the under-15 girls 4x100 and sprint medley relay and under-15 boys sprint medley relay.
Also earning multiple individual medals in individual competition were fellow Carifta Games medal winner James, Lashee Jones, Azari Jones, Ava St Luce, Zaya Zuill, Jemani Scott and Paynter.
James won a pair of silver medals in the under-20 boys javelin and 1,500 metres, Lashee Jones picked up silver in the under-15 girls 100 and 400 and bronze in the 200, while Paynter bagged silver in the under-15 boys 200 and bronze in the 100.
Azari Jones claimed silver in the 13-14 girls 800 and bronze in the 1,500. St Luce brought home silver medals in the under-nine girls 100 and 200, with Zuill winning silver in the under-11 girls 1,200 and bronze in the 800. Scott came home with silver in the under-11 boys 800 and bronze in the 1,200.
Also earning trips to the podium were Tamae Davis, who secured silver in the under-nine girls 800 metres, while silver in the under-nine girls 400 metres went to Mylah DeSilva. Sukanya Jobson won bronze in the under-13 girls 800 with Riana Robinson picking up bronze in the under-13 girls 1,500. Jasmine Reid-Rubaine also claimed bronze in the under-13 girls long jump.
The local team also earned silver in the under-13 girls 4 x100 relay and 1,600 sprint medley relay.
Pacers will be keen to pick up where they left off on their debut at the International Youth Championship in Landover, Maryland, which is held over three days at the Marvin F Wilson Stadium at the Prince George's County Sports & Learning Complex from Friday.
This time around the club will be represented by Kelise Wade, Daylen Scott, Teagan Scott-Hanley, Azari Jones, Lashee Jones, Munya and Grant who is looking forward to the upcoming event.
“I am excited to go to Washington and know some of the people from the Canada meet will also be there,” she said.
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