Bermudian para-athletics star Jessica Lewis has continued her impressive start to the 2026 season with a hard-fought performance on the world stage. Following her dominant victory in the 100m sprint earlier in the meet, the T53 specialist returned to the track at the Dubai World Para Athletics Grand Prix to test her endurance in the 400m wheelchair final.
In a highly competitive combined T53/54 field, Lewis displayed the grit that has become her trademark. Navigating the demanding one-lap contest under the desert lights, she stopped the clock in a solid 59.78 seconds to secure third place. The result marks another consistent outing for the multiple-time Paralympian as she continues to refine her technical approach for the major championships later this year.
The race was won by Turkey’s Hamide Dogangun, a fellow T53 competitor, who produced a clinical performance to cross the line in 59.06 seconds. Canada’s Nandini Sharma, competing in the T54 category, took the second spot with a time of 58.69 seconds, while Zubeyde Supurgeci of Turkey and Artitaya Premphon of Thailand completed the top five in what was a stacked international lineup.
This latest podium finish in Dubai provides further evidence of Lewis's successful transition into the new season. Having recently introduced equipment modifications including new grooved racing gloves, the Bermudian athlete appears to be finding her rhythm and speed at the right time. With two medals already secured at the 17th Fazza International Open Championship, Lewis remains a formidable force on the global circuit as she heads into the final events of the meet.
Bermudian sprinter Sanaa Morris continued her collegiate indoor campaign this weekend, producing a series of gritty performances for Howard University at the 2026 Penn Classic.
Competing at the prestigious Penn State-Ashenfelter Track—renowned for its fast 200m banked circuit—Morris navigated a demanding schedule across both individual sprints and relay duties.
The meet began for Morris in the explosive Women’s 60m Dash. In a deep field of regional talent, she crossed the line in 8.10 seconds to secure 40th place overall. While slightly off her season's best of 8.04 set earlier this year, the performance served as a vital warm-up for her primary event later in the day.
Morris found her stride in the Women’s 400m Dash, showcasing the endurance that has made her a key asset for the Bison. Navigating the steep turns of the banked track, she stopped the clock in 57.99 seconds. The performance earned her a respectable 14th place overall, a marginal improvement on her recent 58.22 showing at the Penn Select meet.
The highlight of the meet came in the Distance Medley Relay (DMR), where Morris played a pivotal role in Howard’s podium finish.
Tasked with the high-intensity second leg, Morris provided a strong carry to keep the Bison in contention at the front of the pack. The team eventually crossed the line in 12:06, securing a hard-fought second place and valuable points for the university.
Monday, February 09, 2026
Tucker & Basden Test Themselves at Indoor Classic
Denver Tucker
IslandStats.com
The high-performance arena of the Alachua County Events Center at Celebration Pointe played host to a stacked field, with Bermudian athletes Denver Tucker and Cameron Basden among those seeking early-season momentum at the Gainesville Indoor Classic.
Competing in the Sunshine State, the duo faced stiff collegiate competition as they fine-tuned their form on the indoor circuit.
Tucker, representing St. Thomas University (Fla.), lined up in a highly competitive field for the Men's 60 Meters Preliminaries. Tucker, who has already shown blistering form this season with a personal best of 6.91 seconds in Miami, stopped the clock this time at 6.97 seconds.
His performance was enough to secure 11th place overall, narrowly missing out on a spot in the final but maintaining his consistency as one of the region's rising sprint talents.
Meanwhile, Basden, competing for Barry University, took on a demanding double-header across both track and field events.
Navigating the challenging 200m banked track, Basden showed grit in the Men's 200 Meters, crossing the line in 22.60 seconds to finish 24th in a deep field of sprinters.
Basden then shifted his focus to the sandpit for the Men's Long Jump. Displaying his athletic range, he recorded a best leap of 6.45m (21 feet 2 inches) to claim 12th place overall, rounding out a productive weekend of competition.
Sunday, February 08, 2026
Sancho Smith Sets Season Best at Carolina Classic
IslandStats.com
Bermudian middle-distance runner Sancho Smith continued his upward trajectory this weekend, leading the charge for Clayton State University at the 2026 Carolina Classic.
Competing at the high-performance indoor facility on the campus of the University of South Carolina, Smith and his teammates faced a stacked field of regional and national talent. The meet served as a crucial barometer for the Lakers as they move deeper into the indoor season.
The standout individual performance came in the 800m, where Smith showed grit and tactical awareness. He clocked a new season-best time of 1:56.92, slicing significant time off his previous marks this year.
In a fast-paced heat, Smith crossed the finish line in 14th place overall. The performance suggests the Bermudian is peaking at the right time, finding the "extra gear" needed as Clayton State prepares for upcoming conference championships.
Saturday, February 07, 2026
Trio Shine for Montverde at Florida Indoor Championships
IslandStats.com
Bermudian track standouts Arima Turner, Amaris Munya, and Miles Outerbridge continued their impressive seasons representing Montverde Academy at the Florida High School Indoor Championships.
Competing inside the Alachua County Sports and Event Center, the trio faced off against some of the top collegiate-bound talent in the United States, delivering a series of performances that underscore their rising profiles on the international stage.
The headlines were stolen by Miles Outerbridge, who showcased blistering form in the 60m Dash. A sprinter who has already made waves by smashing Carifta Games qualifying standards, Outerbridge signaled his intent early in the preliminaries. He clocked an initial time of 6.88 seconds before finding another gear in a subsequent preliminary heat to cross the line in a remarkable 6.76 seconds, securing second place and further cementing his status as one of the region's premier young speedsters.
In the middle-distance events, Amaris Munya produced a gritty performance in the 800m Run. Munya, a consistent performer for the Montverde program, battled through a dense field to secure a ninth-place finish. Her time of 2:19.83 represents a solid outing as she continues to build the endurance and tactical awareness necessary for the upcoming outdoor representative season.
Arima Turner also featured prominently in the sprint double, testing herself against deep fields in both the 60m and 200m Dash. Turner recorded a time of 7.74 seconds in the 60m Dash High School Preliminaries to finish 14th overall. She followed that performance with a 21st-place finish in the 200m Dash, stopping the clock in 25.19 seconds. For Turner and her teammates, the meet provides vital experience in high-pressure environments as they prepare to lead the Bermudian charge at major regional championships later this year.
