Young Bermuda track and field athletes won 18 individual events and two relay races during a successful sojourn to the US to compete in the Northeast Indoor Track Classic in Boston.

The athletics meeting gave the Flyers Track Club and members of Pacers an opportunity to see how they size up against athletes the same age in the Massachusetts and North East US area.

Judging by the performances recorded - which included six personal records - the picture looks promising for the Island's young runners and field athletes. Flyers also had the honour of finishing as the third-placed club and collecting a trophy.

As the athletes returned to the Island, Donna Watson of the Bermuda Track and Field Assocation, said: "Competing in this track meet gave us an indication of where we are in track and field in Bermuda compared to children in other places. We fared very well in all age groups and were very competitive and, in some events, totally dominating."

Flyers' Kyla Bolden was named athlete of the meeting in the girls' 11/12 division where she set personal best times in the 400 metres with a 62.54 seconds run and a 2.28.80 in the 800 metres at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center.

Bolden was not alone in breaking her lifetime bests. Clubmates Kenya Thompson, Kyle Virgil and Ashley Berry also lowered their best times in a number of events. Thompson ran a 25.99 seconds for the 200 metres and added another first place by winning the 55 metres sprint.

Virgil ran a highly impressive 23.40 in the 200 and also won the 55 metres sprint, while Berry was first in the mile race in 5.30.84.

Other winners were Deanne Lightbourne in the 400 metres and 800 metres and Victoria Clarke in the 200 metres and 55 metres.

The Flyers team achieved wins in the 4x200 relay races for both boys and girls in the 15/16 age group.

The sizeable Flyers team also picked up a number of second and third slots.

Runner-up placings were achieved by Keshuntay Graham and Thayne Simons in their respective 55 metre sprints. Darrion Simons was second in the 200 metres and 55 metres, Ashley Berry was second in the 800 metres as was Megan Berry in the one mile and Tre Simons in the 800 metres.

Shuntae Hendrickson was third in the 400 metres while Kameron Creighton was third in the 800 metres.

A small team from Pacers picked up seven wins and one personal best. Pick of the bunch was Ryan Furbert who won the high jump, 400 metres and 800 metres in the 15/16 boys' division. He set a personal record in the high jump.

Pacers' team-mate Blaine Simons was a winner over 55 metres, as was Justin Donawa in his respective 55 metres race and in the 200 metres, while Kyle Webb was also a 200 metres race winner.