Kelise Wade made a big impression on her debut at the Russell E Blunt East Coast Invitational at the Durham County Memorial Stadium in North Carolina last weekend.

The Northland’s School student won two gold medals and a silver, and was crowned as the top runner in the girls’ under-8 age group.

Wade, the granddaughter of late Bermuda cricket legend Sheridan Raynor, won gold in the 1,500 and 800 metres events and silver in the 400. And for added measure her time of 6min 21.64sec in the 1,500 and 3:11.38 in the 800 were both personal bests. The promising eight-year old, who is a member of George Smith Running Club, admits she exceeded her expectations.

“I thought I was hitting some good times, but I was a little surprised about being champion girl,” Wade said. “I didn’t think I was going to do that good.

“It was a little tough but I said to myself, ‘Kelise you can do it and don’t give up on your goals’.

“I trained really, really hard and thanks to my mother [Sherilyn] she got me to my PBs.”

When asked which event she enjoyed the most, Wade said: “I liked the 400 because for my 1,500 I broke down at the end and couldn’t breathe and for my 800 I felt like it was my 1,500.

“For my 400 it just felt like I had to go from here to there.”

The youngster has enjoyed a superb year as she won overall 7-8 age group honours competing in the Tokio Millennium Re Kids Duathlon on Front Street in April.

Having tasted success in North Carolina last weekend, Wade already has her sights on the Russell E Blunt East Coast Invitational next year.

“I hope to go back to North Carolina to compete again and try to do better,” she said.

The annual event is hosted by Durham Striders and open to athletes ages eight to 18.