Bermuda bag four track golds

The Bermuda Athletics Team added six more medals to their Island Games tally with an impressive showing on Thursday night.

Tre Houston took gold in the 200m, Shianne Smith won gold in both the 400m hurdles and 200m, Jasmine Brunson won gold in the triple jump, Akeila Richardson came third in the triple jump, and Natasha Trott took bronze in the 200m.

Houston won easily and set the Island Games record with his time of 21.05 seconds, but felt he could have had a better run. He told the Bermuda Sun afterwards: “I was looking to run something in the 20s but unfortunately I was out there running by myself. I ran 21.05, so I can’t be to disappointed with that. I’ve run 20.8 before with a little bit more competition so I could really get the wheels going. It’s hit and miss, really.

“I’m happy that I finished off the season strong, and at the end of the day, I got gold in front of my home country so I’m happy.”

Smith took home two more gold medals, but was disappointed she did not get the record she was gunning for in the 400m hurdles. Her time of 24.87 was over a second and a half off of the Island Games record of 23.27, set by Cydonie Mothersill of the Cayman Islands in 2007.

She told Sun: “I expected to win two golds. I expected a better time in the hurdles, but I was confident I would get the gold.

“I got off a little slow [in the hurdles], I was hesitant because I didn’t know the competition and how they were going to run so I was just kind of holding out. I also kicked a little too late, I kicked on the back stretch, normally I get out a little harder.”

Brunson set a new Island Games record in the women’s triple jump with a best effort of 12.34 meters, good for gold. She told the Sun: “I was hoping to take gold coming in because it’s the end of the season and a lot has happened. I’m not at my peak but I came in here ready to compete and ready to give my all and that’s what I did today from a short approach, and I came first, so I’m happy with it.

“It felt great to get gold in front of Bermuda. The last time I competed here was the Bermuda National Championships. The crowd here really motivated me and helped me get that winning jump.”