Budding Bermudian athletes from the Flyers Track Club have returned from a successful meet in the US where they claimed 29 medals.

Under the watchful eye of former Island track star Donna Watson, the 28 athletes, aged between nine and 15, went head to head against competitors from 50 teams in the 22nd Annual Cliff Wiley Track Classic last weekend.

It was the fourth year the Flyers had attended the meet and Watson was delighted with their healthy medal haul, although she admitted it had not been as well organised as in previous years with some events being cancelled after the meet overran.

“The Flyers had a very successful track meet in Baltimore, coming back with several medals and several personal best times,”she said.

“But the meet was not as well organised as in previous years. The track meet began at 8.30 a.m., although it was supposed to be 8 a.m., and did not finish until 10.30 p.m. with several of the older athletes’ events being cancelled because of the lateness of the meet.”

“With this being a one-day meet there were no heats or semi-finals but the winners awarded medals based on times. Most of the events had around 30 children competing. The top six in each event were awarded medals.”

Outstanding Flyers’ performances included those by Emmanuel Smith, third in the 3,000 metres, and Darrion Simons who placed first in the 100 and 200 metres with personal best times.

In the 800 metres, Darico Clarke, Dezhane West and Dage Minors all placed first in their age groups while Shuntae Hendrickson and Paul Smith placed third and fourth respectively in the same event.

In the 1500 metres, Dezhane West and Ashley Berry posted first-place finishes, Paul Smith a second and Dage Minors also a second.

Shuntae Hendrickson placed third in the 400 metres.

Held at Morgan State University-Baltimore in Maryland, the meet was governed and sanctioned under USA Track and Field rules.

This year Bermuda Track and Field Association are making a conscious effort to take young athletes to as many international meets as possible.

Last month Flyers returned from the 32nd Annual Miami Northwest Track and Field Classic where they claimed 16 medals.

The 14 athletes, aged between 11 and 15, took on competitors from the Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and from throughout the US.

Flyers’ next overseas meet will be the East Coast Championships in Durham, North Carolina, between July 19 and 23. Those travelling with the squad will include Darrion Simons, De’Quan Lodge, Jyair Trott, Kyle Virgil, Keshuntay Graham, Darico Clarke, Dage Minors, Shuntae Hendrickson, Paul Smith, Ashley Berry, Megan Berry, Kenya Thompson, who all had to meet qualifying standards.