Bermuda's track and field team made a triumphant return to local shores last night after claiming five medals at the CAC Junior Championships in San Salvador, El Salvador.Cheered on by friends and family, the local contingent walked through LF Wade airport to flags waving and banners recognising their achievements.Kyrah Scraders won two gold medals in the Under-17 800 and 1,500 metres with two personal bests, while Taylor-Ashley Bean, Justin Donawa, and Shaquille Dill all secured podium finishes for Bermuda.All four athletes have had long seasons already, especially Scraders whose time of four minutes and 43.65 seconds in the 1,500 metres established a new Championship record.“I was very focused and wanted to run fast and I had heard that the Mexican athletes were fast so I just wanted to be in contention into the final stretch,” said Scraders.“My coach told me to start to sprint but I didn't think I would be able to given the competition. I knew I would be tired but in the end that strategy worked in my favour.“I thought I was going to do well after the first race but the girl that was behind me was only two seconds off so I had to maintain my pace right through to the finish.”For Bean, it was her swan song for the Championships, and admitted she wanted to go out with a bang and claim a medal.Despite carrying some niggling injuries after the recently completed National Championships, Bean won bronze in the girls' Under-20 3,000 metres in a time of 11 minutes, 25.48 seconds. “As this was my last year for the Games I was only thinking of winning as many medals as I could and overall I just wanted to put Bermuda on the map,” said Bean.“My injuries from previous competitions weren't a factor but the altitude wasn't performance helpful either, so I felt fine with my performances and how I fared.”Carifta Games triple jump gold medallist Donawa continued his superb season, claiming silver in the Under-17 boys' triple jump with a leap of 14.49 metres.He also set a personal best in the long jump (6.59) to place fifth overall.“I came off of Carifta Games with the gold medal and tried to get another one this time around but it wasn't meant to be. Overall I'm pleased with how I done,” said Donawa.“The expectations on me were high but I didn't really think of it as pressure.”Dill, who came second in the boys' Under-20 400 metres with a personal best of 47.27 seconds, didn't return with the team as he is on his way to the World Junior Championships in Barcelona, Spain.Sprinter Kyle Webb advanced to both the boys' Under -17 100 and 200 metres finals, placing fifth and eighth respectively, running a personal best in each event.Webb's time of 21.38 seconds in the 200 metres semi-finals heat saw him join Dill in Spain with coach De-Von Bean.Dill will compete in the 400 and 800 metres while Webb will run the 200 metres.Dill had also been expected to achieve a podium finish in his preferred event, the 800 metres, but finished a disappointing eighth overall.Rachel Fox narrowly missed out on a medal in the Under-17 girls' 800 metres, finishing fourth, while Shuntae Hendrickson finished sixth in the 1,500 metres.In the Under-20 boys' 1,500 metres, Juma Mouchette set a personal best of 4:07.70 to place ninth overall, while Dage Minors placed fifth in the 1,500 metres and seventh in 800 metres finals.Bermuda Track and Field Association president, Donna Watson, believed the athletes at the CAC Juniors had fed of the 'feel-good' factor generated at the recent Carifta Games on home soil.“I'm very encouraged because in previous years a lot of our athletes have lost their enthusiasm with their performances dwindling after the Carifta Games,” she said.“This year I feel Carifta has motivated all of them to push even harder and perform at an even higher level.“I figured the team would do well as all of the athletes who were selected had met the qualifying standard and have been training and competing consistently.“There were not too many of the athletes who didn't reach the finals in their specific event and they all gave 100 percent.”Watson now hopes the next generation of track and field athletes will draw inspiration from Scraders and her medal winning team-mates.“Of course my goal is to continue to strive higher and come out with even more performances like Kyrah's,” added Watson.“I was definitely proud of the 4X100m junior boys' relay team as they placed fourth overall, which was a vast improvement from Carifta.“I just foresee track and field to continue to grow, develop and become a force to be reckoned with on the international scene.“When I look at our senior athletes and the junior athletes coming behind them we have a great future in front of us.”For more picture click here