Four more athletes reached qualifying standards for the Carifta Games at a track meet today hosted by Flyers Track club, bringing the total number of qualifiers to nine.

Johndell Cumberbatch who reached the standard for the 5,000 metres at the last meet, again went under the qualifying time of 17 minutes when he clocked 16:37.48. He was joined by Robert Edwards, who went in under the qualifying standard with his time of 16:43.33 to place second behind Cumberbatch.

Taylor Hines became the first sprinter to meet the standard for the Games in Bahamas in March and April, when she recorded a winning time of 25.76 seconds for the under-17 200 metres. The qualifying standard was 26 seconds.

Ryan Outerbridge joined the list of middle-distance runners to reach the standard, after clocking 9:42.53 in the 3,000. The qualifying time was 9:45 which Outerbridge missed last weekend by almost five seconds with his time of 9:49.44. This time he shaved almost seven seconds off that time.

Brianna Mendes was the fourth qualifier, achieving the standard in the 3,000 at a meet in Canada on Friday night where she recorded a time of 11:00.74. The qualifying time was 11:15. The McGill University student also qualified for the 3,000 for the Games last year in Curaçao.

The four join high jumpers Sakari Famous, Elisha Darrell and Amelia Othman and middle-distance runners Ashley Irby and Johndell Cumberbatch. The deadline for qualification is March 10 and considering the conditions, Donna Raynor, president of the Bermuda National Athletic Association, was pleased with the performances turned in by the athletes. She expects more qualifiers over the next couple of weekends.

“We have had a very successful weekend with four athletes reaching the qualifying standard here and abroad,” Raynor said. “With it being a very cold and windy at the stadium we did not think we would get qualifiers especially in the running events, but we had success.

“Brianna, who is in school in Canada, competed at a meet at McGill University on Friday night and reached the standard in the 3000 metres. This brings our total to nine athletes who have reached the standard and we still have a few more athletes knocking on the door.”