Pacers in 17-gold haul

The Bermuda Pacers Track Club returned home from the 2014 Russell E. Blunt Eastcoast Invitational track meet on cloud nine after winning 17 golds, 12 silvers and six bronze.

It was the club’s best performance at the North Carolina meet in its 33-year history.

During the first day, 16 of the athletes competed in two individual running events — the 3,000m finals and the 200m semi finals, while Elisha Darrell and Samuel Darrell competed in the triple jump and high jump respectively.

Overall, the team won three gold medals, two in the 3,000m by Ryan Outerbridge and Jayden Ming, and one from Samuel Darrell in the 11-12 boys’ high jump. 

In addition, the club had 10 of the 13 athletes qualify for the 200m finals.

The second day of the meet would see all 32 athletes compete: 

Three in the long jump, Zekiah Lewis , Syriah Lottimore in the 13-14 girls event, Elisha Darrell in the 15-16 boys event and Sakari Famous in the 13-14 girls high jump.

Nine athletes would compete in the 1500 metres, 12 in the 100m and 11 in the 400m. 

At the end of the day the club would win another five golds — Jade Johnson 9-10 girls, Kahzi Sealy 9-10 boys, Selah Tuzo 11-12 girls, Aaron Jacobs 13-14 boys and David Darrell 15-16 boys.

There was a silver medal from Ryan Outerbridge in the 1500m 11-12 boys and one from Zekiah Lewis 13-14 girls. 

There was also a bronze by Elisha Darrell in the 15-16 boys’ long jump.

The most impressive gold would be won by Sakari Famous in the 13-14 girls high jump were she set a new meet record and bettered the USTA National Age group record with a leap of 1:75 metres.

In addition to these great performances, the team would have six of the 12 athletes reach the 100m finals and eight of the 11 athletes qualify for the 400m finals. 

The final day of the meet would see nine athletes compete in the 800m and 100m finals, 10 compete in the 200m final, eight in the 400m finals, four in the long jump, one in the 15-16 boys’ high jump and all three teams in the 4x400 metre relay finals.

At the conclusion of the day, Jade Johnson and Tes’yah Mahle Astwood would win gold and silver in the 9-10 girls age group respectively, Kahzi Sealy would win gold in the 9-10 boys title, Selah Tuzo would win gold in the 11-12 girls title while Kayla Raymond placed third in the same race. Aaron Jacobs captured the 13-14 boys’ division title.

In the 100m finals, Sanaa Rae Morris placed sixth in the 9-10 girls’ event, Danni Watson also placed sixth in the 11-12 girls’ event and Zye Simmons won silver in the 13-14 girls’.

In the 200m finals, Jahstice Grant placed second and Sanaa Rae Morris placed sixth in the  9-10 girls, Taylor Hines placed second in the  11-12 girls, while Danni Watson and Corriah Simmons place seventh and eighth  respectively. 

During the jumping events, Niyan Outerbridge placed second in the 9-10 boy’s event, while Sanaa Rae Morris and Asia- leigh Hollis placed fifth and sixth in the 9-10 girls’ event respectively. 

Elisha Darrell jumped a PB of 1.90 metres in the 15-16 boys event to capture another gold medal for the club. 

In the 400 metre finals Tes’yah Mahle Astwood placed second in the 9-10 girls division, while Taylor Hines placed third  in the 11-12 girls’ finals, with Kayla Raymond and Makayla Tucker finishing fifth and sixth respectively.

The club collected another gold medal when Aaron Jacobs won his third gold in the 13-14 boys’ 400 metres. 

During the 4x400 metre finals, the 9-10 and the 11-12 girls teams won gold medals and the 13-14 girls team placed second.