Bermuda’s track and field athletes still have a lot to compete for this summer, with triple jumper Jah-Nhai Perinchief in action at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, starting today, before joining compatriots, Caitlyn Bobb, Sakari Famous, Tiara DeRosa and Dage Minors, at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.

All attention will then be focused on the final meet of the season, the NACAC Open Championships from August 19 to 21.

The championships will be held in Grand Bahama, Bahamas with the BNAA hoping to send a team of at least 20 athletes. This will be the fourth edition of the NACAC Championships, which began in 2007 and was also held in 2015 and 2018.

Freddie Evans, the Bermuda National Athletics Association president, has highlighted the importance of the championships, with the belief that winners of individual events will be treated as having qualified for the World Athletics Championships, which are scheduled for Budapest, Hungary, in 2023.

Evans recently approached the NACAC leadership to confirm that the regulations allowing NACAC champions an open invitation to the next World Games had not been changed.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Bermudian athletes, and BNAA hopes to send a team of 20 or more to this championship,” Evans said.

“Although late in the season, it is a great opportunity for aforementioned athletes as well as collegiate stars like Ryan Outerbridge (5,000 metres), Mykal Dill, (long jump) Katura Bulford Trott (200, 400) Za’Kayza Parsons (100, long jump) and Nirobi Smith-Mills (800).

“Bermuda is eager to see how our national record-holders in the women’s 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams fare in the competition. BNAA is also expecting to send a men’s 4x400 team to these Games.”

He added: “Clearly, NACAC is anxious to have its best athletes at the Open Championships in Grand Bahama, August 19 to 21. What better reason to be there than a qualifying sport for the World Championships!”