Cameron Adkins got his cross-country season off to a great start by achieving his personal best of 16min 15 sec in the 5K at the Hare & Hounds XC Invitational in Charlotte, North Carolina, last weekend.

Competing for Randy Ashley Running club in the high school boys championship, the Bermudian’s time placed him 40th of 283 competitors. He bettered his previous best of 16:37 attained at the Eye Opener in Spartanburg, South Carolina, last September.

“It was a good start to the season especially to come off with a PB in my season-opener,” the 16-year-old told The Royal Gazette.

“It was a great race overall with a lot of fast guys. It was a phenomenal course to start with and the weather was perfect for a good race.

“I feel like it was a solid effort that puts me in a good place to start the season, I hope for better times as the season goes on.”

The Warwick Academy student won a silver medal for Bermuda at the Carifta Games in the under-17 boys 1,500 metres in Trinidad & Tobago this year. In 2026, he is going up to under-20 level, where he will be trying to meet the qualifying standards for the 1,500 and the 5,000 metres on the track.

“The time I ran on Saturday correlates under the standard for the Carifta 5,000, but I have to run that on the track for a valid time to be put forward,” Adkins said.

“I’m doing cross country until the end of fall, then the winter track from December to February. I should be able to go for the Carifta standard during the indoor season.

“After Christmas and into the New Year once the track season starts, the times should start to count towards Carifta qualification.

“I’ll be 17 for Carifta next year so I’m going up to the under-20, where I’ll be for a couple of years.”