in the final event of the championships -- the 4 x 400 metres relay.

The Bermuda squad of Marco Perinchief, Tony Bean, Anthony Wedderburn and Devon Bean increased the team's medal tally to seven when they came home in third place.

National team coach Gerry Swan said it was Bermuda's first relay medal in a very long time.

Bermuda came back with six medals from the 1991 CARIFTA Games, but they had no success on the track.

This time, as well as their relay bronze, Sharif Taylor struck silver in the 800 metres.

Bermuda's other five medals came in the high jump, with Stephen Woodley snatching gold and Rohaan Simons silver; in the javelin, with Patrice Scotland striking gold; in the triple jump, Woodley again taking gold; and in the long jump, Woodley winning silver.

Swan said that in addition to the medallists, a further five athletes had achieved personal best performances during the three-day competition. They were Atiba Tucker (200 metres); Nakia Pearson (100 metres); Perinchief (800 metres); Tony Bean (400 metres); and Wedderburn (1500 metres).

Bermuda's 15-strong team reached the finals of 22 of the 29 events in Nassau giving Swan great hopes for this summer's Junior CAC Championships in Honduras.