A team of talented young athletes did Bermuda proud when they competed against some of the world's elite performers at the Island Games in New York.

Accompanied by Bill Euler, coach of Mid-Island Striders Athletics, the eight athletes scooped an impressive ten medals at the 2nd Annual Island Games. It was the first time Bermudian athletes had entered the competition.

Billed as the "Caribbean verses USA", the meet included athletes of all ages from Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, Antigua, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, and throughout the USA.

The USA Track and Field sanctioned event was held at the Mitchel Athletic Complex, in Uniondale, and featured high school, open, masters and youth events.

Outstanding performances came from Brandon Sousa, 1st long jump and 1st 100m; Zaccheaus Rawlins 3rd long jump and 5th 100m; Kyla Boldon, 1st 800m and 2nd 400m; Esaiah Lister 2nd long jump and 3rd 100m; Shianne Smith 5th 200m and 5th 400m; Akilah King 3rd long jump; and Deanne Lighbourn 5th 400m.

Coach Euler saved special praise for Zaccheaus Rawlins who qualified for the World Youth Championships in the Czech Republic later this summer.

"It was the first time Zaccheaus and Brandon Sousa had competed at an international meet and they both recorded personal bests," said Euler.

"There was around 900 athletes from the Caribbean and USA so the standard was very high.

"The organisers were very excited to see Bermudian athletes at the event and we plan to take a larger team next year.

"We made a good impression and this meet has the potential to be something very big in the future. A New York based team have expressed an interest in coming to Bermuda soon, which is something for us to look forward to."

Kyla Bolden, Brandon Sousa and Esaiah Lister will be attending legendary coach Brooks Johnson's training camp in Orlando, Florida, next week and will compete in the AAU Junior Club Championships from July 2 -5.

Last week Flyers Track Club returned from a successful overseas meet claiming a total of 16 medals at the 32nd Annual Miami Northwest Track & Field Classic.

Accompanied by coaches Donna and Mike Watson the 14 athletes, aged between 11 and 15, took on competitors from the Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and throughout the US.

Held at the Nathaniel Traz Powell Stadium, most of the events had at least three heats with the top eight overall earning medals.