By Dexter Smith

Head of Sport

Jah-Nhai Perinchief, Bermuda’s leading young high jumper, boosted his ambitions of a fine showing at the Youth Olympics when he cleared a personal-best 2.08 metres (6ft 10in) at the Dutch National Championships in Amsterdam on Saturday.

Other than finishing second to clinch the silver medal, it was a day of firsts for the 16-year-old, who was making his maiden appearance in senior competition and also his first in Europe — at the Olympic Stadium, which will be host to the European Athletics Championships in 2016.

Donna Watson, the president of the Bermuda National Athletics Association, said the result bodes well for Perinchief as he prepares for the Youth Olympics, which will be held in Nanjing, China, from August 16 to 28.

Kyrah Scraders, Bermuda’s other participant at the Youth Olympics, is preparing herself at a training camp in Oregon, coming off her gold-medal-winning performances in the 800 metres and 400 metres at the CAC Junior Championships in Mexico.