Miles Outerbridge became the first athlete from Bermuda to qualify for this year’s Carifta Games when clocking a sizzling indoor personal best of 21.34sec to win the Adidas Track Nationals 200-metre qualifier on the opening day of the Virginia Showcase on Friday.

Running in lane six of heat 11, the Bermudian put on a solid show at the Virginia Beach Sports Centre and the 17-year-old clocked the fastest time of the 45 runners taking to the track

According to the Bermuda National Athletics Association, th0 Carifta standard for under-20 Bermudian boys in the 200 metres is 21.80, which means the sprinter’s time was good enough to secure him a spot in the island’s team for the event taking place in Grenada from April 4 to 6.

While Outerbridge has qualified for the Adidas Track Nationals, scheduled for March 20 to 22, in Virginia, he may not take his place in that event.

Dustin Spanbauer, the Montverde Academy track and field head coach, was quick to point out that they usually send their athletes to the New Balance Nationals Indoor Track and Field Championships, set for Boston, from March 12 to 15.

“We usually attend New Balance Indoor Nationals rather than Adidas Indoor Nationals,” Spanbauer told The Royal Gazette.

“Some of these bigger meets have events that are auto qualifier events for other meets, so even though he won today, he won’t necessarily compete at that meet.

“It was a great season opener and we are excited to see where the rest of the season progresses for him.”

Arima Turner, another Bermudian athlete, won her heats in the 200 and 55-metre dash. She stopped the clock at 25.17 in the 200, with her time placing her fifteenth of 56 runners, while the 7.19 she ran in the 55 metres saw her finish an impressive second of more than 200 competitors.

Outerbridge took to the track again on Friday night in the 300-metre dash, while Turner is back in action for the sprint medley relay on Saturday.

Amaris Munya, who is making her debut at the VA Showcase, is running the sprint medley relay and the 1000 metres on Saturday afternoon.

“VA is the official start to my indoor season and I feel excited about this new experience,” Munya said.

“This will be my first time running 1000 metres, especially on an indoor track. I will also be running the 800-metre leg in the relay medley.

“This is the largest and most competitive event I have participated in. I am looking forward to the challenge.”