Robinson & Smith lead the Charge as Carifta Trials Begin
Riana Robinson
IslandStats.com
Bermuda’s aspiring track and field stars took their first steps toward international competition as the Bermuda National Athletics Association hosted the opening Carifta Trial Meet at the Flora Duffy South Field Stadium. The event marked the beginning of a high-stakes qualifying window, with several athletes coming within striking distance of the elusive standards required for the regional showpiece.
The standout performance of the day came in the Under 17 Women’s 1500 meters, where Riana Robinson delivered a gritty display of middle-distance running. Robinson crossed the line in 5:08.71, finishing just over two seconds shy of the 5:06.00 qualifying standard. Her performance established her as the closest female athlete to a qualifying mark during the meet, placing her firmly in the spotlight ahead of future trials.
On the men’s side, Sanchez Smith stole the headlines in the Under 17 1500 meters. Smith stopped the clock at 4:26.30 to record a new personal best, leaving him roughly six seconds away from the 4:20.00 standard. While Smith leads the chase for the younger age group, Gianluca Bortoli also showed promising form in the Under 20 division, finishing his 1500-meter heat in 4:16.79, less than seven seconds away from the 4:10.00 benchmark.
In the sprint events, Surii Russell pulled double duty, testing himself in both the Under 17 and Under 20 400-meter dashes. His time of 52.03 was the fastest quarter-mile of the day, leaving him just 1.59 seconds away from the Under 17 standard of 50.44. Meanwhile, Kelise Wade proved to be the class of the field in the Under 17 Women's 400 meters, clocking 1:01.27 in an impressive solo effort.
The 100-meter sprints saw Leydi Raynor claim victory in the Under 17 Women’s final with a time of 13.07, while Chanz Martin led the way for the men in 12.21. In the field, Amaya Davis recorded a leap of 15-09.00 in the Long Jump, continuing her development in the discipline. As the season progresses, these athletes will look to bridge the narrow gaps to the standards as they aim to secure their seats on the plane for the 2026 Games.
