Bermuda Pacers Track Club made an impressive debut at the International Youth Championship in Landover, Maryland.

The local team came away from the meet with a gold medal, qualified for three finals and achieved two personal bests at the event, which was held at the Marvin F Wilson Stadium at the Prince George's County Sports & Learning Complex last weekend.

Distance runner Jaeda Grant again underlined her potential after claiming gold in the 15-16 girls 3,000 metres and fell just shy of the bronze after finishing fourth in the 1,500 metres.

Also reaching finals were Azari Jones and Amaris Munya, who placed eighth in the girls 1,500 metres and 800 metres in the girls 13-14 age group.

Distance runner Kelise Wade also competed in the girls 800 metres in that age group and placed thirteenth, while sprinter Teagan Scott-Hanley lowered his times on the way to reaching the semi-final in the 200 and 400 metres in the boys aged 8 and under division.

Lashee Jones and Daylen Scott also impressed by making it to the girls 13-14 and boys 15-16 200 and 400 metres semi- finals, while the team of Lashee Jones, Azari Jones, Wade and Munya placed seventh in the 13-14 girls 4x100 relay.

Bermuda Pacers were represented by a team of seven that were among 2,400 athletes from the United States, Canada and Caribbean that battled with heat, rain and thunderstorms during the three-day event.

The meet was Bermuda Pacers’s second straight appearance in the United States in as many weeks after they came away with a remarkable 31 medals, including nine gold, and placed fifth among more than 90 teams at the Flying Angels International Track and Field Championships in Ontario, Canada.

Grant was also the team’s standout performer on that occasion after earning gold medals in the 3,000, 1,500 and 800 metres on the way to being crowned girls champion in the 15-16 age group.

Cal Simons, the Bermuda Pacers Track Club head coach, is thrilled to see his athletes reap the benefits of their hard work and commitment at both events.

“I am extremely proud of the performances the Pacers athletes have achieved over the past two weekends,” he told The Royal Gazette. “Their hard work and dedication has really been impressive.

“The parental support has been amazing and I am sure the parents have been extremely proud of their children.”