The BNAA National Championships this weekend will be a “low key” event because of a couple of factors, including the date change for the second Invitational Area Permit Meet which will now take place on July 1.

Donna Raynor, the president of the Bermuda National Athletics Association, admitted it was doubtful any college or overseas-based athletes would be back for Saturday’s National Championships, focusing instead on the Permit Meet, which promises to be even bigger than last year’s inaugural event.

“Most of the guys are gearing up for the Permit Meet, so the National Championships are going to be kind of low key this year,” Raynor said yesterday. “That’s why we are only having it one day, Saturday, starting at 9 o’clock and finishing around 2.00.

“It’s low key because we had to change the date of the Permit Meet. We’re bringing Kyle [Webb] home and Tyrone [Smith] will definitely be here for the Permit Meet because the long jump is going to be a big event. We’re bringing in most of the top long jumpers.”

The event, which is expected to feature the athletes from the recent Carifta Games, was originally scheduled for Friday and Saturday evening. It would have come two weeks after the Permit Meet, which was rescheduled from May 27 to avoid clashing with the America’s Cup.

Sponsorship was also impacted because of the America’s Cup, but Raynor is confident the meet will be bigger than last year with several top international athletes again lined up.

“We’re not getting as much sponsorship as we had last year for the Permit Meet, I’m sure it’s because of America’s Cup,” Raynor said. “And because we had to change the date, which was for the America’s Cup, that is now two big [track] meets back to back.

“XL Catlin was a sponsor but they are not a sponsor of the Championships this year, so we don’t have the funds to be able to bring the athletes home as we will bring them home for the Permit Meet.

“It is going to be much bigger and the quality of the athletes way higher.

“We’re still confirming some of the athletes. All the events are over-subscribed and we’re still getting calls from coaches and agents who want to bring their athletes here.”

One big attraction in the Permit Meet will be the first appearance on local soil in about seven years for Jessica Lewis, who will compete in the 800 metres race. Lewis will race against Canadians Illana Dupont and Jessica Frotten in the para race, while Lamont Marshall is set to compete in the 3,000 metres steeplechase.

“In Jessica’s race it will be three athletes while we have four athletes in the steeplechase but still confirming,” Raynor said.

Lewis has enjoyed success in the past few years, including winning gold in the 100 metres at the Parapan Am Games in Toronto in 2015 where she became the first Bermudian to medal at a major para-sports competition.

She followed that up at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Doha, Qatar the same year, claiming bronze in the 100 before competing at the Paralympics in Rio, placing sixth in the 100 final. Lewis, 24, is eyeing more medal success when she competes at the World Championships in London later in July.

Also back for the meet are Shaquille Dill and Dage Minors, who competed against each other recently in the 800 metres at NCAA Division II Championships in Florida. They will run the 800 metres along with Edward Kemboi, of Kenya, who has a best time of 1:45.60, Charles Jock, of the Uunited (1:44.57), Rafith Rodrigues, of Colombia (1:46.7), Harun Abda, of the US (1:45.44), Julius Mutekanga, of Uganda (1:46.30) and Ryan Sanchez, of Puerto Rico (1:46.77).

Smith and Houston finished second in their respective events at last year’s Area Permit Meet which was held in April. Smith finished behind Mike Hartfield with his leap of 7.78 metres in the long jump in only his first meet of the season. Houston was second in the 200 metres in a time of 21.09 seconds.

Smith recently breaking his Bermuda record of 8.22 metres set in 2010 at the CAC Games with his leap of 8.34m at the Tom Tellez Invitational Meet in Houston in May. The effort qualifies him for the IAAF World Championships in London in August. Smith admitted he went into the meet aiming to jump 8.40 metres.

Eight runners confirmed the women’s 400 metres includes competitors from Jamaica, the US, Nigeria and Grenada who have achieved the qualifying time of 53.00 seconds. The list includes Dawnalee Loney of Jamaica (52.08), Kimika Beckles of Grenada (51.72), Margaret Bamboose of Nigeria (51.11), Grace Claxton of Puerto Rico (52.62), Robin Reynolds of USA (52.41) and Tiffany James of Jamaica (52.58). Completing the eight are Sparkle McKnight of Trinidad (52.52) and Jordan Lavender of USA (52.48).

The top four finishers in each event will win prize money.