The Bermuda National Athletics Association are planning for the Invitational Permit Meet to return next summer — but hope for an improved attendance from last weekend’s second annual event.

The BNAA was looking for a bumper turnout last weekend to support the increase in prize money, but president Donna Raynor admits the numbers were disappointing, despite the rare appearance of para-athlete Jessica Lewis on home soil along with sprinter Tre Houston and long jumper Tyrone Smith.

“We did not attract the sponsors we did last year and I realise it was mainly due to the America’s Cup and Bermuda was all caught up in that,” Raynor said.

“I did think that because this was a local event, run entirely by locals with top international competition, that we would get some companies interested.

“We couldn’t even get sponsors for our local athletes’ events, not even Jessica’s race.”

The grandstand was about half full, also a big disappointment for the organisers.

“Of course the other disappointment was the low turnout for the event,” Raynor said. “Again, I assume we got caught in the America’s Cup excitement and people may have spent their funds at that event.

“Also there were a few other events that took place that night. I still thought, ‘How often do you get to see top international athletes in Bermuda competing at the level these athletes have competed at’?

“When I look at the European meets, the other Permit meets, we truly matched up to those events. The atmosphere was great even with the few spectators we had.

“The meet started on time, each race was on time and finished on time. For me and my committee, who put in a lot of hard work to put on this event, that was our biggest disappointment.

“We’re hoping to have this as an annual event but hope to get much better support next year. It will be earlier next year, some time in May.”

Raynor praised the Bermuda athletes for their performances at the meet, with Lewis winning the T53 800 metres, Smith finishing second in the long jump, Houston third in the 100 metres and Kyle Webb sixth in both the 100 and 200.

Lamont Marshall was second in the 3,000 steeplechase race, an event rarely seen at the National Stadium. Sakari Famous was third in the high jump, while Bruce DeGrilla was fourth in the long jump.

“I was very excited with the way our Bermudian athletes performed at this meet, to see Tre and Tyrone come into form and perform well at our own National Stadium, and in front of a small Bermuda crowd,” Raynor said.

“The overseas athletes performed well and put on a fantastic show. Our goal was to take the meet to a higher level with even more top level athletes and we were able to do that. It was a great privilege to have athletes like Wallace Spearmon [100 and 200] and Michael Hartfield [long jump] come to this meet and they both had great performances.

“We had our track power-washed thanks to the National Sports Centre and that made a big difference.”

Raynor added: “Two of my highlights of the meet, which were new features to the event, were Jessica and her two competitors in the para 800 metres and the steeplechase.

“We wanted to include Jessica last year but the schedule did not work for her, so we were so excited that she was able to come and bring other competitors with her.”

“We promised Lamont that we would have a steeplechase event to assist him in his quest to reach the qualifying standard for the World Championships. Last year we were supposed to have a 1,500 metres for him but we were unable to get the athletes. This year that was one of our priorities.

“Unfortunately, Lamont didn’t reach the standard, but it showed that he can hang with some of the best in the world, as the winner [Donald Cowart] has a qualifying time for Worlds.”