Bermuda's CARIFTA Games team returned from St. Kitts this week with just one medal, despite travelling with one of the largest squads the Island has ever fielded in the annual Caribbean track and field meet.

However, Donna Watson, assistant coach, felt the team put up a good showing, with many of the athletes performing well beyond their years.

"I think from an overall performance, Bermuda did very good", said Watson. "We knew we had a young team and had athletes competing in the Under-20 age group for the first time."

Aaron Evans captured the only medal - a bronze - when he finished third in the Boys' Under-20 800 metres with a personal best time of 1:52.61 at the Bird Rock Athletic Stadium in Basseterre.

Evans broke the junior national record which was previously held by Kavin Smith, who set the mark in June 24, 1984.

"We had a lot of heartbreaking fourth places, which is one place out of the medals," said Watson.

"So for Bermuda that was good as we are progressing from sixth or seventh place in previous years and not making it to many finals."

Tre Houston did make it to the finals in the Under-20 Boys' 100 metres for the first time, running a personal best in the semi-finals of 10.58 seconds.

However, this performance was overshadowed by his disqualification in the 200 metres.

"Unfortunately he was disqualified in the 200 metres, where he probably would have medalled, and based upon the final times he would have been in there with a good chance", Watson continued.

Bermuda had five out of six athletes qualify for the 800 metre finals.

Ryan Furbert competing in the Under-17 Boys ran a PB of two minutes flat in the semi-finals and placed sixth in the final, while Taylor-Ashley Bean ran a PB in the Under-17 Girls final of 2:21.41, placing fourth.

Kyla Bolden, one of the youngest competing in the Games, qualified for the Under-17 Girls 800 metres final. And Deanne Lightbourne qualified in the 800 metres Under-20 Girls and posted a PB in the final. She also broke the Bermuda national junior record in a time of 2:13.85 and placed fourth, breaking Vernee Ingham's mark set in April 8, 1996.

Alexis Bean placed fourth in the Under-20 1500 metress with a new junior national record with a time of 4:42.63, breaking the previous record held by Gina Evans.

Matthew Spring placed fourth in the 1500 metres Under-20 Boys' final with a time of 4:02.8. Ashley Berry placed fifth in the 3000 metres Open Girls with a PB and set a new record of 10:46.10, breaking the mark set by Alexis Bean at last year's Games

Alison Outerbridge came agonisingly close to snatching a medal, finishing fourth in the triple jump, after holding down third place right up to the last jump.

Outerbridge's best effort was a PB of 11.40 metres with all of her jumps in the series beating her previous best.

Sean Trott placed sixth in the 5000 metres Under-20 Boys in a PB of 16:24.32.

As has been the case in recent Carifta Games, Jamaica dominated the meet, finishing on top of the medal table.