Pacers cap Youth Championships with 6-medal Final Day
IslandStats.com
The Bermuda Pacers Track Club signed off from the 2026 International Youth Championships in Maryland in spectacular fashion, capturing six medals on the final day of competition to push their total tally to 10.
Following Saturday's severe storms that forced a temporary suspension of events at the Prince George's Sports and Learning Centre in Landover, the young Bermudian squad returned to the track in formidable form.
Riana Robinson led the final-day charge, storming to victory in the Girls 1500m (15-16 Division) with a time of 5:31.61 to claim Bermuda's lone gold medal of the closing session.
The Pacers added four silver medals across field and distance events:
Novi Butler produced a leap of 3.84m (12ft 7.25in) in the Girls Long Jump (9-10 Division) to secure second place, while teammate Giselle Reid-Rubaine finished just off the podium in 4th (3.76m).
Amaya Davis flew to a silver medal in the Girls Triple Jump (13-14 Division) with a top mark of 10.65m (34ft 11.25in).
In middle-distance action, Elliott Davidge claimed silver in the Boys 1500m (9-10 Division) in 5:05.43, a feat matched by Ronan Davidge in the Boys 1500m (13-14 Division) with a time of 4:52.54.
In the short sprints, Kaden Davis capped an impressive individual championship in the Boys Under-8 division. Having placed fourth in the 200m final (29.43s), Davis bagged a bronze medal in the 100m final after crossing the line third in 14.31s.
Boys 100m & 200m (8 & Under Division) 100m Final: 3rd Kaden Davis – 14.31 (Bronze) 200m Final: 4th Kaden Davis – 29.43
Sprint Finals Round-up
Girls 100m (9-10 Division): 12th Novi Butler – 14.63 Girls 200m (9-10 Division): 11th Novi Butler – 30.01 | 20th Giselle Reid-Rubaine – 31.39 Girls 100m (11-12 Division): 13th Gabrielle Saunders – 13.34
Sunday, July 19, 2026
DeRosa-Williams back on Podium on Day Two in Oklahoma
IslandStats.com
Bermuda’s Tiara DeRosa-Williams wrapped up a busy weekend with another podium finish on day two of the Throw Town Ramona meeting.
Competing in the Women’s 19-49 Discus Throw as part of the Oklahoma Throws Series, DeRosa-Williams claimed third place with a best effort of 47.74m or 156ft 8in.
The performance came less than 24 hours after her record-breaking national mark of 51.10m on the opening day of competition in Ramona.
While short of her landmark throw from Saturday, the 27-year-old showed strong consistency in high-caliber conditions to secure her second top-three finish of the event.
Saturday, July 18, 2026
National Record for DeRosa-Williams & Podium in Oklahoma
IslandStats.com
Bermudian discus thrower Tiara DeRosa-Williams has set a new national record after claiming a third-place finish at the Throw Town Ramona meeting.
Competing in Oklahoma as part of the prestigious Oklahoma Throws Series, DeRosa-Williams produced a stunning lifetime best performance in the circle.
Her top effort of 51.10m (167ft 8in) secured a podium spot and comfortably rewrote the national record books.
The landmark throw eclipses her previous national benchmark of 50.07m, laying down a serious marker as she continues her preparations for the international stage later this year.
Saturday, July 18, 2026
Storms halt Youth Championships as Pacers Impress
IslandStats.com
Severe thunderstorms have brought an abrupt halt to day two of the 2026 International Youth Championships in Maryland, forcing organizers to suspend competition following tornado warnings and flash flooding.
Damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes swept through the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) region on Saturday afternoon, putting safety protocols into action at the Prince George's Sports and Learning Centre in Landover.
Before the weather intervened, young athletes from the Bermuda Pacers Track Club delivered a string of impressive performances to book multiple spots in the upcoming finals.
In the boys' events, Kaden Davis caught the eye in the Under-8 100m preliminaries, storming through to the next round as the third-fastest qualifier in a blistering 14.58 seconds. Over in the 9-10 division, Elliott Davidge fell just short of the finals but clocked an excellent 1:08.78 to finish 9th overall in the 400m.
The Pacers' girls also enjoyed a productive day in the sprint heats:
11-12 Division: Gabrielle Saunders enjoyed a stellar double-qualification day, securing 8th place in the 200m prelims (27.59s) and 12th in the 100m (13.61s).
9-10 Division: The club safely advanced two runners in the 100m heats, with Novi Butler (14.67s) and Giselle Reid-Rubaine (14.74s) finishing 10th and 11th respectively.
200m Heats: Reid-Rubaine double-qualified by grabbing 19th spot in the 200m (31.62s), while teammate Sazise Lobese fought hard across both sprint distances, clocking 32.74s in the 200m and 15.85s in the 100m.
Officials are monitoring the weather closely, with updates on the remaining schedule expected once the severe weather tracking across the region clears.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Four-Medal Haul for Pacers on Day One in Maryland
IslandStats.com
The Bermuda Pacers Track Club enjoyed a sensational opening day at the 2026 International Youth Championships, capturing four medals and securing vital final berths at the Prince George's Sport and Learning Centre in Landover, Maryland.
Competing against top-tier regional talent, the young Bermudian contingent delivered a series of gritty, high-calibre performances to firmly plant their flag on day one of the prestigious meet.
The undisputed highlight of the day came on the endurance track, where Riana Robinson put on a masterclass in tactical running. Competing in the Girls 3000m (15-16 Division), Robinson left the field in her wake to storm home in 12:31.78, securing a magnificent gold medal. Robinson later showed her incredible range by returning to the track to finish a highly commendable sixth in the Girls 800m in 2:30.65.
The silver standard was matched twice on a stellar afternoon. Ronan Davidge laid down a superb marker in the Boys 3000m (13-14 Division), digging deep to clock 11:10.91 for a well-deserved silver medal.
Minutes later in the Men's 800m (17-18 Division), Surii Russell showcased his blistering kick. Having already safely navigated the 400m preliminary rounds earlier in the day with a sharp 50.98, Russell clocked a brilliant 2:01.51 in the two-lap final to claim Bermuda's second silver of the day.
The medal count was rounded out in style by Kelise Wade in the Girls 800m (15-16 Division). Wade produced a courageous finish to cross the line in 2:25.74 to bag a superb bronze medal.
Away from the medal podium, the sprint lanes provided plenty of drama as the Pacers standard-bearers navigated grueling multi-round formats.
Jadon Lightbourne proved to be the standout performer in the short sprints. Competing in the Boys 13-14 category, Lightbourne qualified through the 100m prelims in 12.05s before raising his game in the semi-finals. He clocked an impressive 12.21s to secure an automatic qualification spot (Q) for the grand final. Lightbourne also reached the 200m semi-finals, bowing out with a very respectable 25.18s.
There was heartbreak, however, for Jasmine Reid-Rubaine and Amara Samuel, who both narrowly missed out on their respective short-sprint finals despite outstanding efforts. Reid-Rubaine finished 9th overall in the 100m semi-finals (12.89s) and 10th in the 200m semi-finals (26.25s). Samuel mirrored that agonizingly close margin, placing 10th in the 15-16 Girls 100m semi-finals (12.83s) and 15th in the 200m semi-finals (26.29s).
In the field, Amaya Davis flew the flag high in the Girls Long Jump (13-14 Division), placing an excellent sixth overall with a best leap of 4.76m (15 feet 7.50 inches). Team-mate Cataliah Pitcher-Place also gained valuable international experience, finishing 20th with a jump of 3.87m (12 feet 8.50 inches).
