Sanaa Morris became the first local sprinter to reach the Carifta Games qualifying standard competing at last month’s Galleria Games in Birmingham, Alabama.

The IMG Academy student met the standard in the under-17 girls 200 metres after placing ninth among a field of 79 competitors.

Morris, who was a member of Bermuda’s 4X100m Girls relay team that won the bronze medal at last year’s Carifta Games in Bahamas, covered the distance in 25.99 secs, with the Carifta standard being 26.00.

She also competed in the 400m, placing sixth overall out of 73 competitors, with her time of 59.87 just off the Carifta standard of 58.50.

The Galleria Games were held the CrossPlex Athletic Facility on December 21.

This brings the number of local athletes having achieved the Carifta qualifying standard to four.

Middle-distance runners Kahzi Sealey, Tommy Marshall and Ryan Outerbridge all reached the Games qualifying times during the first track meet of the year at the National Sports Centre last weekend.

Sealey and Marshall qualified in the under-17 boys 3,000 metres, with Sealey clocking a time of 9:34 to go under the qualifying time of 9:45, while Marshall also went under the mark with a time of 9:40.

Outerbridge achieved the standard in the under-20 5,000 when he clocked a time of 16:50 to go under the qualifying time of 17:00.

The qualification deadline is March 15.

Bermuda earned six medals at last year’s Carifta Games, including three gold.

The island is hosting the Games for the first time in eight years and fifth overall at the National Sports Centre from April 10 to 13.