Triple jumper Jah-Nhai Perinchief added a silver medal to his recent Commonwealth Games bronze when he had a best jump of 15.89 metres on the opening day of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association Senior Championships at the Grand Bahamas Sports Complex in Freeport, Bahamas last night.

Perinchief, who had a best leap of 16.92 at Commonwealth two weeks ago in Birmingham, England, finished behind gold medal-winner Chris Benard, of the United States, who recorded his best jump of 16.40 at the third attempt. Taeco O’Garro, of Antigua, claimed the bronze with a leap of 15.70 as he and Perinchief both achieved their best jumps at the sixth attempt.

Perinchief started with a leap of 15.82 before he had a foul on his second and fourth attempts with a leap of 15.55 on his third jump.

The 24-year-old then had a pass on the fifth jump as he saved his best effort for last to earn Bermuda a medal on the opening day against five other competitors.

College student Sakari Famous just missed out on a bronze in the women’s high jump when she recorded a best jump of 1.78 metres, which was followed by three failed attempts at clearing the bar at 1.81. She had earlier cleared 1.70 and 1.75 before going on to finish tied for fourth among eight participants.

Vashti Cunningham and Rachel Glen, of the United States, claimed gold and silver with jumps of 1.92 and 1.84 while Ximena Rachel Lizbeth Gusman, of Mexico, beat Famous to the bronze with her leap of 1.81.

Earlier in the day, Antonio Bailey finished eleventh in the 400 metres after recording a time of 50.40 seconds in heat two. Eight sprinters, led by Jamaican pair Christopher Taylor (45.50) and Nathon Allen (45.85), advanced to the final.

Taylor won heat while Allen won heat one, with Bryce Deadmon, of the US, recording the third-best time of 46.63 and Asa Guevara, of Trinidad and Tobago, a time of 47.08 to finish second in heat two.

Mikal Dill and Sadiq Nurse were twelfth and thirteenth respectively among 13 competitors in the men’s long jump with jumps of 6.21 and 5.92 metres. Dill achieved his best leap at the first attempt and Nurse at the second attempt.

Last night, Keturah Bulford-Trott placed sixth in her 200 metres heat, clocking a time of 26.03sec.

The heat was won by Brittany Brown, of the United States, in a time of 22.59 while Tynia Gaitor, of Bahamas, placed second in 22.82.

In the women’s discus, Tiara DeRosa finished in sixth place. In the build-up to the championships, the 24-year-old spoke of her determination to better her personal best of 48.89 metres and finally surpass the 50 metres mark.

However, it was not to be as she posted a best attempt of 46.42 with her third attempt of six.

Laulauga Tausaga-Collins, of the US, claimed gold with an impressive throw of 63.18, almost two metres further than her nearest rival, Ponce Denia Cabal, of Cuba, who took silver with a best effort of 61.86.

Rachel Dincoff finished in third, completing the podium places, to claim bronze with a best throw of 61.56.