Donna Watson, the president of the Bermuda National Athletics Association, hailed high jumper Jahnai Perinchief and middle-distance runner Kyrah Scraders for being the top qualifiers in their events from the Americas region for the Youth Olympics to be held in Nanjing, China, from August 19 to 21.

The pair were confirmed last week as representatives for both their country and the Americas, after reaching qualifying standards at the Carifta Games in Martinique in April, when Scraders won gold in the 800 metres and Perinchief the silver in the high jump.

Scraders was the top qualifier among the three 800?metres runners from the Americas who are going to the Youth Olympics, while Perinchief tied for the highest leap of the four high jumpers from the Americas.

“In pretty much every event, we have somebody from Carifta,” Watson said. “That we had two athletes make it from this region is fantastic.”

Perinchief, a student at CedarBridge Academy, has been in good form since before the Carifta Games, while Scraders, who attends Berkeley, continues to show the potential that makes her one of the Island’s most promising middle-distance runners, replicating her gold and silver-medal double from 2013 in the 800 and 1,500.

“The meet after he [Perinchief] came back from Carifta, he jumped another PB of 2.05 metres,” Watson added. “Every time he jumps, it appears he is jumping higher and higher. He and the Jamaican tied for the highest jump from the region and Kyrah has the fastest time among the region. That is a big boost for Bermuda.

“Unfortunately, she has the Kenyans to go up against [in China], but Kyrah seems to pull out her best no matter who she is competing against.”

Jeneko Place, Bermuda’s representative at the previous Youth Olympics in Singapore in 2010, reached the finals of the 200 metres.

Perinchief and Scraders will use the national championships on June 13 and 14 to prepare for the Youth Olympics, but most of Bermuda’s leading overseas-based stars will miss the event as they prepare for the Commonwealth Games.

“Aaron Evans has a big meet next weekend but Trey Simons may be here,” Watson said. “I definitely know that Arantxa King and Shianne Smith won’t be here, but next year we are definitely looking at bringing them home.

“The championships are looking good. We’ve had a lot of participation from the meets we’ve had; a lot of the younger athletes and about 200 athletes every meet. We have athletes trying to qualify for other events, like NACAC Under 23 and Kyrah is still trying to qualify for the World Juniors and has to run a 2:09.”

Ashley Berry, in the steeplechase, and triple jumper Jasmine Brunson have the Commonwealth Games in their sights. “Ashley is very close,” Watson said. “She is so close to qualifying that we are trying to find her a meet overseas.

“Allison Outerbridge is also pretty close to the standard for Commonwealth. It should be a good event, Allison and Jasmine in the triple jump.”