Donna Watson, the Bermuda National Athletics Association president, insists she could not have asked for more from the Island’s athletes who competed at the Carifta Games in Martinique.

Bermuda won five medals, with Kyrah Scraders winning gold in the girls’ under-17 800 metres and silver in the 1,500, Sakari Famous claiming silver in the girls’ under-18 high jump, Jahnai Perinchief clinching silver in the boys’ under-17 high jump, while Dage Minors won bronze in the boys’ under-20 1,500.

“This has been a great Carifta for Team Bermuda,” Watson said. “Five medals and two near bronze misses with Justin Donawa [boys’ under-20 triple jump] and Dage [under-20 5,000].

“I’m very pleased with the performances of my athletes, they all gave it their best shot.

“We have had medals, personal bests, athletes possibly qualifying for other events and we couldn’t have asked for more.”

Watson envisages a bright future in the sport for all those athletes that travelled to Martinique.

“Of course the gold medal win by Kyrah was the highlight and especially they way that she did it by overtaking the two Jamaicans on the home stretch, what an exciting race to witness,” Watson said.

“Then there was Jahnai fighting for the gold against a Jamaican. If Jahnai had not just brushed the bar with his feet he would have won the gold.

“Sakari had to fight against the worst possible wind and it seemed like every time she went to jump, the bar kept falling down. Despite all of that, she still managed to win silver.

“Dage had to fight for the bronze medal in the 1,500 and just missed out on silver [in the 5,000].”

Minors, in his final Carifta Games race, almost collapsed with two laps remaining while holding down the bronze medal. It was later discovered that Minors had been suffering from high blood pressure.

For Donawa, a back injury prevented him from competing after posting just one of his jumps. He was in the bronze medal position at the time when he had to withdraw.

“I felt bad for our two older athletes,” Watson added. “Dage was running clear in third place and then nearly collapse because his blood pressure had shot up,” Watson said. “I think it had to do with Dage running in the cold weather [in the United States] and then his body trying to adjust to the hot and humid conditions [in Martinique]. He definitely had the bronze in his hand.

“Then there was Justin whose first jump placed him in third position but then he had problems with his back.

“Right until the last round of jumps he remained in the bronze position.

“As the BNAA president, I couldn’t complain as I watched each athlete give their best. I couldn’t ask for anymore from them.”