Bermuda Pacers Track Club have returned home with nine medals after competing at the first ever combined Russell E. Blunt/East Coast Invitational Track Meet at Duke University in North Carolina.

And West End Athletic Club, taking part at the meet for the first time, bagged another two medals.

Altogether, more than 2,500 youngsters from the US east coast and Bermuda took part in the meet.

The young, but talented Bermuda athletes overcame weather extremes -- soaring 90 degree temperatures, torrential rain, lightning and thunderstorms -- to win three gold, six silver and two bronze medals, with Harold Tre Houston the cream of the team with three medals.

Along the way Houston set two new meet records in the 100 and 200 metres for 9-10 boys, breaking those held by another current pacer, Vernal Lambe.

Houston placed second in the 100 in a time of 13.48 seconds, but went one better in the 200 as he broke the tape first in clocking 27.43. He was also first in the long jump with a leap of 14 feet, two inches.

Richard Walcott and Gabriel Wilkinson both enjoyed double medal performances, Walcott's personal best 4:07.33 managing second among the 17-18 boys' 1500 metres, while another personal best in the 800 (1:54.5) also earned the youngster a place on the podium. Wilkinson won silver in the shot and discus respectively with heaves of 50'2'' and 153'6''.

Other medal winners were LaTroya Darrell in the 11-12 girls high jump and Deanna Lightbourne in the 800 metres. Darrell claimed silver with a clearance of four feet, nine inches, while Lightbourne ran and impressive 2:35.46 for third place, shaving a staggering 12 seconds off her previous fastest time.

Other notables were Danielle Watson (fourth in 13-14 400m), Kumar Grant (fourth in 9-10 long jump), and Kyle Wade (fourth in 9-10 100 metres).

There was also disappointment as the 4x100 and 4x400 relays, in which Pacers had qualified for the finals, were cancelled due to severe thunderstorms.

For the West End Club, Terrance Christopher and Joshaua Lightbourn grabbed gold and silver respectively in the boys 9-10 high jump, each clearing four feet.

Kalila Furbert was the West End's most outstanding athlete as she placed fourth in the girls 11-12 200 metres final in 27.33 and seventh in the 400m final. Her sister Rachel made the semi-finals in both 15-16 girls 100m and 200m.

Carlos Paynter placed second in his 800m heat and third in the 1500m heat while Danlia Martin performed well in the 9-10 girls 200m and 800m.