Youngsters Coyatito Smith and Dorian Armstrong returned to Bermuda from Edmonton, Canada, yesterday after having successfully completed a week-long International Triathlon Union Solidarity Camp.

Some 80 junior triathletes, aged between 12 and 19 and from various Pan American countries, took part in the camp which culminated in their participation in the Pan American Junior Triathlon Championships on Sunday.

Despite suffering from a heavy cold that almost forced camp organisers to rule him out of the race, Armstrong took second place in the boys? 12-13 age group in a small field of five athletes.

He finished the 300 metre swim, 10K bike and 3K run in an overall time of 45 minutes and 35 seconds despite struggling throughout the race.

His run, usually his strongest discipline, of 15 minutes and seven seconds over a flat course was well outside his best.

Victory in the age group went to Felipe Barraza from Chile in 44 minutes and 57 seconds.

In the 16 to 19 age group, Smith placed 21st out of 33 participants in one hour, six minutes and 28 seconds in a strong field that included five Canadians who finished in the top ten in the Canadian Junior Triathlon Championships 2003 and a number of juniors against whom Smith had competed at the Triathlon Junior World Championships in May this year.

Smith emerged from the 750 metre swim in 28th place in 12.01, which included a long transition, and in the draft legal bike section rode with the third pack of riders, finishing the 20K course in 34.50. He then ran 19.37 for the 5K.

The race was won by Mexican Sergio Sarmento in 58 minutes and two seconds after he outsprinted Canada?s Ben Adam to win by just one second.

The junior and age group races, part of the Edmonton Triathlon Festival 2004, were run in cold but clear weather but later in the day the weather turned rapidly with golf ball size hailstones along with thunder and lightning forcing cancellation of the men?s World Cup event, a race which was to have featured many of the world?s best triathletes.