Tyler Smith continued his assualt on the Olympic Games by producing a top-ten finish at the 2024 Americas Triathlon Championships on Friday.

Smith finished tenth in the event held on the Homestead-Miami Speedway and gained valuable points in his attempt to secure a spot in the elite field in Paris this summer.

The Bermudian exited the water in seventeenh position in a time of 19min 07sec and made up six places on the bike to head out on the run in eleventh th position. A fast 10K of 32:50 saw him take another position to finish the Standard Distance triathlon in a time of 1:46:36. Morgan Pearson of the USA won in a time of 1:43:39.

Smith was one of four male triathletes from Bermuda to take part under blisterringly hot conditions, with a number of competitors forced to retire due to the severe conditions.

Nick Pilgrim raced in the under-23 event over the standard distance but was forced to pull out on the second lap of the run to receive treatment for heatstroke.

The youngster had started the event well, producing one of the fastest swims of his career to exit the water in eighth place in a time of 19:06 and started his run in ninth after a quick bike leg of 54:46 before succumbing to the effects of the heat. only 15 of the 37 athletes managed to complete the race

Earlier in the day, Oliver Hayward and Jackson Langley, put in promising performances in the Junior Men category over the sprint distance.

They raced alongside each other throughout most of the race and finished within 15 seconds of each other, Langley crossing the line in 48th in a time of 59:43 and Hayward 49th in 59:57. Reese Vannerson of the USA took first in a time of 50:42.

Steve Petty, president of the Bermuda Triathlon Association was full of praise for the athletes for their performances in tough condidtions.

“Despite facing stiff competition and navigating through scorching 29-degree temperatures, all our athletes exhibited remarkable determination and perseverance throughout their races,” Petty said.

“Their unwavering resolve and commitment were evident as they pushed themselves to the limits. In particular, I would like to commend Tyler Smith on ultimately securing an outstanding tenth position among the field of elite athletes. His dedication and sportsmanship are a testament to his character, and we continue to support him in his goal to qualify for the Olympics.”