Jackson Langley made a triumphant return to the international scene when competing at the Clermont Draft Legal Challenge in central Florida.

The promising triathlete scooped gold and bronze medals among a formidable field in the male youth category last weekend.

Langley made the best possible start after coming from behind to claim top spot with victory in the first race at Lake Louisa State Park on Saturday.

He completed the 375-metre swim, ten-kilometre bike ride and 2.5k run in 31min 38.9sec to finish 17 seconds ahead of Luke McIntyre of Barbados with Florida’s Ethan Courson rounding off the podium in third.

Langley followed up that success with another trip to the podium after finishing third place in Sunday’s race, which he covered in 30min 32.1sec to slash more than a minute off his time from the previous day.

Barbados’s McIntyre took the gold with Georgia resident Jake Judge pipping Langley for the silver by seven seconds.

The competitions marked the perfect return to international competition for Langley, who was ruled out of last November’s Carifta Triathlon through injury.

“Missing Carifta last year due to my crash was a big disappointment, so this weekend has felt great,” Langley said.

“The competition was fierce but our whole team represented Bermuda really well. I want to thank my team-mates, my coaches, especially my dad [Clive Langley] and my VT Madison cycle team-mates who have really been pushing me on the bike.”

Also among Bermuda’s standout performers in a field of more than 80 competitors were Jacob Wright (16th and 18th) and Braxton Cooze (20th), who produced top-20 finishes.

Tallulah Parkinson (21st) and Ella Shepherd (23rd) were the island’s top performers in the female youth races.

Bermuda was represented by a 14-strong team that also included Lucas Bhule, Makao Butterfield, Jens Drea, Jasper Lau, Jamie Macfarlane, Gordon Smith, Sanchez Smith, Rory Shepherd and Dominic Wright and their performances have inspired national coach Neil de ste Croix.

“The weekend has been a huge success and, on a regional level, to see three young men from the Carfita group placing in the top ten was truly amazing,” he said.

“The growth and development of the latest wave of young triathletes in Bermuda is inspiring.”

Langley’s father, who serves on the national coaching staff, also reckons the future of the sport in Bermuda is in good hands.

“I am incredibly proud of Jackson and the whole Bermuda squad,” Clive Langley said. “How they have conducted themselves and competed on this much bigger stage is truly commendable.

“It’s an honour to be a part of the next generation of the sport. There’s much more to come, I am sure.”