Tyrone Smith, the Bermuda long jumper, will be hoping to strike gold when he competes in the men’s final in Veracruz, Mexico, today.

The 30-year-old will aim to defend the title he captured at the CAC Games four years ago when he stands on the runway and stares towards the sandpit at the Heriberto Jara Atletic Staduim.

Smith posted a personal-best leap of 8.22 metres to set a national record in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, becoming the first Bermudian to win gold at the CAC Games since Clarance “Nicky” Saunders, who won the high jump at the 1987 Games in Caracas, Venezuela.

Donna Watson, the chef de mission and Bermuda National Athletics Association president, said: “With Tyrone being the defending champion he will have to put in a good jump to win back his title but he’s confident that he will be fine tomorrow.

“I’m really looking forward to the events and hope we come out with some success.” Smith’s team-mate Shianne Smith will also be in action today in four heptathlete events: the women’s 100 metres hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200 metres.

The Bermuda women’s hockey team finished in last place without scoring a goal at the CAC Games. The team were rooted to the bottom of pool B after losing 5-0 to both Trinidad and Tobago and Dominican Republic before going down 1-0 against Guyana.

They then lost 3-0 to Barbados in the fifth-to-eighth-place game, and 2-0 against Jamaica in the seventh-to-eighth-place match.

Cuba were crowned the CAC Games hockey champions after defeating Dominican Republic 4-3 in a shoot-out in the final.

Dominic Mayho, the Bermuda cyclist, did not finish in the men’s road race in Veracruz at the weekend.

In the women’s race, Nicole Mitchell came 35th out of 39 finishers in the 77.2-kilometre event in a time of 2hr 22min 7sec, while her team-mate Zoenique Williams failed to finish.