In her last event in her last Carifta Games, Zindzi Swan leapt to high jump gold to crown a spectacular weekend for Bermuda athletics.

Island athletes ran and jumped to an impressive haul of nine medals - including four golds - to exceed even the highest expectations at the Caribbean junior athletics extravaganza.

The golden weekend, which saw Lovintz Tota (under-20 long jump), Latroya Darrell (under-17 high jump) and Taijaun Talbot (under-17 1500m) also grab top spot on the podium, left Bermuda a remarkable joint third in the gold hunt - way behind the dominant Jamaicans but ahead of many of the more populous Caribbean islands.

Swan's victory in the under-20 high jump was her second medal of the weekend, after picking up one of two Island silvers in the long jump on Good Friday - Cody Lima's impressive effort in the under-17 1500m on Saturday provided the other.

Deanne Lightbourn grabbed bronze in the under-17 800m yesterday while Chloe Kemp also finished third - albeit in a field of three - in the 3000m.

Lightbourn then grabbed a second bronze as part of the under-17 4 x 400m relay team who out-paced Grenada in a field of four teams. She ran the second leg in a team of Brittany Pitt, Shelby Hollis and Arantxa King that finished in 4.00.45.

After Swan came second in a head-to-head battle with Rhonda Watkins of Trinidad & Tobago in the long jump on Friday, she made up for it in the high jump yesterday - clearing 1.79 to claim gold.

“I wanted to go out big,” said Swan, winner of five medals now in five Carifta Games.

“I felt pretty confident going into it, but I was a bit worried about the girl from the long jump.

“But this time I got the better of her and it is wonderful to win in front of the home fans.”

With the gold in her pocket, Swan then attempted to better her 1.80m national record but failed to clear 1.82m.

Tota, inspired by the gold success of room-mate Talbot the night before, was in spectacular form on Saturday night, out-jumping his personal best on five occasions.

The 18-year-old's victory also saw him qualify for the World Junior Championships in Italy in July, besting the 7.55m qualification standard with his giant second leap.

“I knew it was enough to put me in the lead,” said Tota, who began leaping around in front of the grandstand even before the measurement was complete.

“I just glanced to my side when I landed and I knew I had gone further than the Jamaican (Wilbert Walker).

“But then I didn't know if it was going to be enough to get me the gold, it was just a matter of waiting to see what happened.

“I got my personal best in the 100 metres the day before but I was disappointed I didn't get a medal - I really wanted to get one in the long jump.

“This is the pit I train in week in, week out - I was not prepared to lose on home turf.

“Taijuan is sharing a hotel room with me and he was walking around saying ‘feel the steam coming out of room 454' - once he won I sort of had to follow.” Talbot had won the Island's first medal on Friday in a battling run to claim the 1500m crown.

Jumper Latroya Darrell narrowly missed out on two trips to the podium, grabbing gold in the high jump on Saturday and then setting a personal best in the triple jump but missing out on bronze by just 11 centimetres with a leap of 12.09m.

Going head to head with Skeeta Isaac of Grenada, Darrell used all three attempts to clear 1.68m and grab the gold - but wanted to go further.

“It is great to get the gold,” said Darrell, who has to move up to the under-20 category next year to try and retain Swan's crown.

“But I can jump better than that and it would have been nice to have a bit more competition to help me go higher.”

She got her wish - and more - in the following day's triple jump but was still pleased with her performance.

“I got a personal best, so I feel I did good,” she added.

One Bermudian who narrowly missed out on gold was Lima, who was involved in an intriguing battle with Jamaican Desrick Brooks in the 3000 metres.

Lima went out fast and held the lead for the first three laps, Brooks then took it from him for 800 metres before the 15-year-old once again took it back after five laps.

But the Jamaican moved ahead with 300 metres left and despite vocal home support from both sides of the stadium, Lima didn't have quite enough left in the tank to catch him on the final straight.

“I just didn't have the sprint at the end,” said Lima after receiving the customary hug from national coach Gerry Swan.

“That is something I need to work on. My plan was to go out hard and make sure I ran the race at my pace - not his.

“It's great to get the silver and the crowd were amazing - they really helped.”

Lightbourn was in the hunt for gold at the bell in her 800m, but when the pace picked up, particularly on the final straight, she didn't quite have enough to keep up with Jamaican Vanessa Boyd and Emilie Ducados of Martinique.

“It was easy on the first lap but it was tough on the second,” said Lightbourn, who finished in 2.22.98 despite heavy strapping on her leg.

“I wanted to finish in the top three, so I am happy.”

Kemp picked up her bronze despite finishing last in the 1500m - her time of 11.46.66 was nearly a minute behind winner Pilar McShine of Trinidad & Tobago.

In the relay win, Lightbourn hauled Bermuda back from last into a medal place after Pitts' run, with King and Hollis comfortably holding the bronze position to complete an incredible haul for the Island team on home turf.