Boykin Twins Impress At The 2nd Annual Bermuda T&F Challenge

Devonshire, Bermuda -- The 2nd Annual Bermuda Track and Field Challenge, in conjunction with the country's National Age-Group Championships, was held over the weekend at Flora Duffy South Field Stadium in Devonshire. 

The meet, which is predicated on the 'Competition, Camaraderie, Culture' initiative spearheaded by meet manager Coach Jason-Lamont Jackson Sr. hosted its fair share of dignitaries, both within the track and field sporting space and otherwise. 

3-time Team USA Olympian Hazel Clark, 2-time Bermudan Olympian DeVon Bean, 1995 World Indoor champion in the triple jump Brian Wellman, 2024 Paris Olympian Jah-Nhai Perinchief, 2022 Commonwealth Games veteran Tiara DeRosa and current NCAA stand-outs Za'Kayza Parsons and Ryan Outerbridge from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and Franklin Pierce University, respectively, were all in attendance to enjoy the action at the Bermuda National Athletics Center. 

Additionally, a special treat for all those who were in attendance at the stadium was an appearance from Premier E. David Burt. Mr. Burt, who owns the distinction of being Bermuda's youngest ever premier when he took office in 2017 at 38-years-old, was on hand to mingle with spectators and to watch his daughter Nia Burt while she represented her Bermuda Pacers club. 

On the track and in the field events, the athletes delivered. 

2023 Bermuda Challenge XC Challenge champion Fidelis Osunkwo made a return visit to the beautiful island and captured 1st place honors in the 800 meter contest. The native New Yorker, who'll be taking his talents to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in the fall, clocked 1:53.05 over two laps of the track. 

Osunkwo's teammate from the NRG Track Club Nicholos Sealey also entered the win column with a 22.02 effort in the 200m finals. The rising senior clocked 21.93 in the preliminary round to position himself as the finals' top seed. 

The sibling duo of Evan Boykin and Aron Boykin made their presence known with wins in the field and track events. 

Aron hit a 50-7.5 mark to collect the shot put event win. This was the first time going north of 50 feet for the Charlotte Christian rising senior and Jet LLC Track Club member. He also claimed first in the discuss competition. 

Evan clocked 10.59 to earn 100m dash gold. A state champion in North Carolina in the NCISAA Division, Boykin launched his meet experience with an 11.16 clocking in the prelims. 

Representing the Coach Jackson Sr. led West Orange Track Club, Ava Neretic and Gideon Griffin captured gold in the 1500m and 400m contests. 

Neretic, a rising junior based out of New Jersey and a veteran of the Bermuda Challenge XC series, broke the tape in 5:12.64 while Griffin, a soon-to-be senior classman posted a 50.16 mark. 

Montverde Academy (FL) product Ellise Dickinson continued her torrid outdoor track campaign with an emphatic win in the quarter mile. 

Dickinson, an FHSAA state meet finalist, a New Balance Nationals Outdoor veteran and a rising junior, clocked 57.85 for the win. She holds an ultra-impressive season's best mark of 54.21 in the 400. 

Local distance running standout Jake Brislane went 4:12.62 to win the 1500m. The promising young Bermudan is seeking a World U20 qualifying berth, so while pleased to secure the win he was hoping for a little more from himself on race day. 

He'll look to take a few more shots at the time standard in his pursuit to be in the line-up later this summer at the Championships, which are slated for Lima, Peru. 

As a special attraction, the Bermudan crowd at Flora Duffy South Field Stadium were entertained by a triple jump event series featuring their own Jah-Nhai Perinchief. 

The 2021 NCAA Division I outdoor championships silver medalist on behalf of the Tennessee Volunteers and the 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist was getting some live work in on his pursuit to Paris. 

Perinchief had several solid jumps and his day of work was highlighted by a series best effort of 16.51m (54-2.0).