Naomi MacGuinness underlined her potential by achieving an impressive hat-trick while representing Bermuda Pacers on her debut at the Russell E Blunt East Coast Invitational in North Carolina last week.

The athlete won gold medals in the 3,000, 1,500, and 800 metres and capped a memorable first appearance at the prestigious event by being chosen as the outstanding athlete in the girls’ 11-12 division.

Team-mate Jadon Lightbourne also made his presence felt with gold medals in the 100 metres (12.11sec) and 200 metres (25.96), and was deservedly chosen as the outstanding athlete in the boys’ 11-12 division.

Riana Robinson and Gianluca and Carina Bortoli were the remaining Pacers athletes securing multiple gold medals at Durham Memorial Stadium.

Robinson won the girls’ 13-14 3,000 and 1,500 metres races, Gianluca Bortoli led the boys’ 15-16 field home in the 3,000 and 1,500, and Carina Bortoli in the girls’ 17-18 girls 1,500 and 3,000.

Among those securing silver medals were Tobiah Goodchild, Elena Bortoli, Amaya Davis and Elliott Davidge in the eight and under boys’ 800 metres.

Goodchild earned silver in the boys’ 15-16 1,500, Elena Bortoli in the girls’ 13-14 3,000 and 1,500, Davis in the girls’ 13-14 triple jump and Davidge in the boys’ eight and under 800.

Bronze-medal performances were produced by Giselle Reid-Rubaine in the girls’ 9-10 long jump, Ajani Trott in the boys’ 11-12 400, Ronan Davidge in the boys’ 13-14 3,000, Davis in the girls’ 13-14 long jump, Timothy Pearman in the boys’ 13-14 800, and the girls’ 13-14 4x400 relay team of Sukanya Jobson, Zakhya Scott, Robinson and Davis.

Pacers’ 11-12 boys and 13-14 girls’ teams also placed third overall.

The 18-strong contingent also produced a string of personal-best performances in temperatures that at times were in excess of 100F at track level.

Head coach Cal Simons received a community award from Durham Striders Track Club for his 43 years of attending the meet.

In turn, Simons and Pacers president Wayne Raynor presented Durham Striders head coach Frank Davis with a Bermuda cedar plaque in celebration of the club’s 50th anniversary.

It has been a highly successful month of international competition for Bermuda Pacers, having securing 53 medals, including 21 gold, blazing to seven meet records and achieving 22 personal-best performances on the way to finishing runners-up among the 123 international teams at the Flying Angels International Track and Field Championships in Toronto.