Jah-Nhai Perinchief received a huge confidence boost in the build-up to the Commonwealth Games with a podium finish in California at the weekend.

Competing unattached, the 24-year-old Bermudian secured the silver medal in the men’s open triple jump with a leap of 17.05 metres at the USATF San Diego-Imperial Association event held at the Olympic Training Centre in Chula Vista on Sunday.

It was the star athlete’s first appearance at a track meet since competing at the USATF Bermuda Games at the Flora Duffy Stadium in April.

“A good performance, heading in the right direction,” said Brian Wellman, Perinchief’s mentor and former world indoor champion.

“Still got some things to clean up. I think it’s a competition thing; he’s a little bit out of position.

“A few things he has to work on, and one thing compounds the other. If you mess up the first thing, it’s all downhill from there, which is kind of what happened.

“But to jump as far as he did, with the mechanics that he executed in that jump, is promising because it’s something that can be easily fixed or cleaned up.

“It’s a good spot, good performance all things considered; so I think he has got quite a bit left in the tank.”

Chris Benard, of Chula Vista Elite, won the gold with a leap of 17.61 and Jaden Boggs, of Ctg Development, bronze with 13.14.

The Commonwealth Games will be held in Birmingham, England, from July 28 to August 8.

Other local athletes to have reached the qualifying standard for the Games include Olympic champion Dame Flora Duffy.