Thirty-five athletes from the Bermuda Pacers Track Club headed to Raleigh Durham, North Carolina, yesterday to make their 35th appearance at the Russell E. Blunt East Coast Invitational Track Meet.

This weekend’s event is a milestone for the Bermuda Pacers as they have been in existence for 35 years, supporting local athletics in helping to produce Olympians such as Brian Wellman, DeVon Bean and Tre Houston.

The Pacers athletes in North Carolina are aged between eight and 17, with 13 making their first appearance at the meet.

The team will compete in 90 individual events as well as a 4x100 metres relay, two 4x400 relays and, for the first time, a 4x800 metres replay in the boys 15 to 17 age group.

Also for the first time, there will also be three girls representing the club in the eight and under age group.

Heading this year’s team will be Carifta athletes Aaron Jacobs and Elisha Darrell. Jacobs will compete in the 15-16 400, 800 and 1,500 metres, as well as the 4x800 metres replay.

Darrell will also be in action in the 17-18 high jump, long jump and triple jump.

The team will be without the three-times gold-medal winner Sakari Famous, who holds the high jump record in the 13-14 and 15-16 girls’ division.

Famous has opted not to compete and will be missed not just for her jumping but also her positive attitude and outstanding leadership skills, Cal Simons, the Pacers coach, said.

“She just felt tired and decided to sit this one out,” Simons said. “She’ll be a miss as she is such a positive young athlete.

“Some other athletes like Selah Tuzo, Zakayza Parsons, Chayse Tanner and Kanzi Emery, qualified to go to the East Coast but opted to go with the BUT [Bermuda Union of Teachers] team to the British Virgin Islands for the Caribbean Union of Teachers meet.”

Action begins on Friday and concludes on Sunday. Accompanying the team will be coaches Norbert Simons, Jerome Richards, Wayne Bean, Jeanine Scott and Monique Lugo.

Simons is confident the team contains some potential medal winners. Also travelling with the team are two athletes from Flyers Track Club, Messiah Greaves and Iziah Tucker.

“The eight and under girls are pretty strong, the young boy Sancho Smith is making his first appearance in the 11-12 boys and some of his times should put him in medal contention,” Simons stated.

“Then we have leaders like Ryan Outerbridge who is running well and along with Aaron and Elisha should do really well.

“We’ve got the athletes to do well but with Selah out we have lost at least three medals and Zakayza one or two.

“This is an exciting year for us and we’re hoping to be as successful as we have in the past.”

The team are scheduled to return to Bermuda on Monday.

SQUAD

Girls 8 and under: Arima Turner (100, 200, 400 metres), Karis Brooks (100, 200 and long jump), S’Nya Cumberback (200, 400, 800).

Boys 8 and under: Daylen Scott (100, 200 and long jump)

Girls 9-10: Ramiah Brangman (400, 800), J’Nas Richards (long jump 100, 200).

Boys 9-10: Jace Donawa (long jump, 100, 200), Maxmillion Reid (800,1500).

Girls 11 to 12: Marli Butterfield (100, high jump, long jump), Myeisha Sharrieff (high jump, 800), Sanaa Rae Morris (200, 400)

Boys 11 to 12: Sancho Smith (400, 800, 1500).

Girls 13 to 14: Taylor Hines (100, 200, 400), Koa Goodchild (long jump, 400, 800), LeeKesha Burch (shot put, discuss), Makayla Tucker (long jump).

Boys 13 to 14: Clevonte Lodge (100, 200, 400, 4x400 relay), Zion Thompson (400, 800, high jump), Ryan Outerbridge (800, 1500, 3000), Jayden Jacobs-Furbert (400, 800), Iziah Tucker (1500, 3000).

Girls 15 to 16: Zakiah Lewis (long jump, triple jump, 4x100 relay), Telilah Wears (100, 200, 4x100, 4x400 relay), Zye Simmons (100, 200, 4x100m res, 4x400 relay), Syriah Lottimore (100, 200, long jump, 4x100), Ali Boylan (400m, 800m, 4x400), Messiah Greaves (400, 800, 4x400 relay), Mikaela Outerbridge (800, 400, 4x400, 4x100 reserve).

Boys 15-16: Aaron Jacobs (800, 400, 1500, 4x800 relay), Jayden Ming (800, 1500, 3000, 4x800 res), Malik Joell (400, 800,1500, 4x800 relay), Sajan Havery (400, 800, 4x800 relay).

Girls 17 to 18: Tai Talbot (100, 200, 400).

Boys 17-18: Elisha Darrell (high jump, long jump, triple jump), Isiah Bell-Phillips (400, 800).