Cal Simons, the Bermuda Pacers Track Club head coach, has hailed the organisation’s brilliant showing at the 2023 Armory Youth Championships in New York at the weekend.

The local club was represented by a 13-strong team that came away from the USA Track and Field-certified meet held at the Armory Track and Field Centre on Saturday. with fourteen medals, including two gold.

“I was extremely pleased with the performances of the athletes,” Simons said. “The competition at this meet allowed the athletes to test their fitness levels in a very positive way.”

Anthony Harkness won the boys’ 15-16 3000 metres in a personal best time of 10:44.53 on his international debut.

Cameron Adkins also impressed in his first appearance representing his club overseas as he claimed the island’s remaining gold medal in the boys’ 13-14 mile with a time of 5:00.78.

Among those earning silver medals were J’Auza James in the boys’ 17-18 long jump and high jump, Shayla Cann in the girls’ 17-18 400 metres, Riana Robinson in the girls’ 11-12 mile race, Amaris Munya in the girls’ 13-14 400, Miles Outerbridge in the boys’ 15-16 55 metres and Andre Hollinsid in the boys’ 13-14 200 metres.

I’Aura Golding won bronze in the girls’ 17-18 55 metres hurdles and her achievement was matched by Munya in the girls’ 13-14 800, Hollinsid in the boys’ 13-14 55 metres, Harkness in the boys’ 15-16 mile and Cann in the girls’ 17-18 800 metres.

James, Golding, Cann, Adkins, Munya and Outerbridge were among eight team members who will represent Bermuda at next month’s Carifta Games in Bahamas along with J’Naz Richards and Azari Jones.

“For the Carifta athletes, I believe it was definitely what they needed,” Simons added.

“Shayla Cann and Amaris Munya was able to push themselves in the 400 meters while J’Auza James in the long jump was able to produce four perfect jumps off the take off board.

“It was a great lead-up meet for the athletes going to Carifta.”

Jones narrowly missed out on a medal after finishing fourth in the girls’ 13-14 800 metres, while also coming up just short of the podium was Jasmine Reid-Rubaine and James who finished fourth in the girls’ 11-12 long jump and boys’ 17-18 400 metres respectively.

Maximillian Reid, Jones and Richards achieved fifth-place finishes in the boys’ 17-18 800 metres, girls’ 13-14 400 metres and girls’ 55 metres.