Bermuda has bid to host the 2020 Carifta Games after finishing with two bronze medals at this year’s event, which finished yesterday at the Ergilio Hato Stadium in Willemstad, Curaçao.

Sakari Famous won the Island’s first medal on Saturday in the high jump before Tiara DeRosa won another bronze in the discus. On yesterday’s final day of competition, Bermuda recorded three personal bests, with Elisha Darrell just failing to win a bronze in the under-20 boys high jump when he placed fourth with a personal best leap of 2.11 metres.

Darrell had a PB of 2.05 metres going into the Games and pressed hard to win a medal after recording his best jump, a fantastic achievement. The winning jump was 2.22 metres, a new Carifta record by Jermaine Francis of St Kitts and Nevis. Bahamians Kyle Alcine and Jyles Etienne took the silver and bronze with jumps of 2.18 and 2.16 metres. Darrell failed in three attempts at 2.14 metres.

In the boys under-18 4x400 metres relay, the team of Deneo Brangman, Suresh Black, Clevonte Lodge and Lejuan Matthews ran a fantastic time of 3:22.51 to qualify for the finals where they placed fifth overall.

Aaron Jacobs, who had already run a PB to get into the 800 metres final, ran another personal best time of 1:58.60 to place sixth overall.

“For me, we might have come out with two medals but we had nine personal bests,” said Donna Raynor, president of the Bermuda National Athletic Association. “These athletes fought hard but as usual at these games Jamaica stole the show. We took a young team but as I stated they will give 100 per cent and they did. I am very proud of them and the effort they gave. All in all this was a good Carifta Games for us and I am very proud of our team.

“Bermuda has bid for the 2020 Games and is up against Curaçao who have also bid. We will find out later this year who will win the bid.

“Also next year the age groups will be moved back to U17 and U20. This for various reasons, but the most important is the numbers with the current system in the U20 where the numbers were beginning to dwindle, especially the females.”

Jamaica continued their dominance of the Carifta Games, winning 86 medals during the three-day event, 39 gold, 28 silver and 19 bronze as they claimed a 33rd straight title. They landed their 41st win overall at the Games which began back in 1972. Jamaica won 86 medals for the third-straight year, finishing with 39 gold, 28 silver and 19 bronze but failed to equal the 42 gold medals won last year.

Last year Jamaica won 42 gold, 25 silver and 19 bronze medals in St Kitts. Trinidad and Tobago finished second this year with seven gold, five silver and ten bronze, followed by Bahamas who won six gold, 15 silver and ten bronze; Barbados (four gold, four silver and four bronze) and Guyana (four gold, a silver and three bronze).

Bermuda last hosted the Carifta Games in 2012, winning six medals, including a first gold in eight years when Justin Donawa won the triple jump. The Bahamas will host the 2018 Games.

UPDATE: this article has been amended to clarify that it is Aaron Jacobs who is at the Carifta Games and not Aaron Evans