Origins and Purpose
The Bermuda Pacers Track Club was formed in 1981 by Mr. Clarence Smith, Mrs. Sandra Whitter, (the late) Mrs. Joan Simons, Mr. Winfield Todd, Mr. Vernal Burns and a number of other interested and enthusiastic parents.

The Club's main objective is to promote the development of track and field athletics in Bermuda by making quality training accessible to every young athlete who shows an interest in the sport. The Club's program targets young athletes from the ages of 7 and up. In addition to helping our athletes develop their potential in the sport of track and field, the Pacers Club also seeks to develop its members into responsible and well-rounded individuals with a commitment to excellence and fair play.

For the past sixteen years, the Pacers Club has been involved in organizing as well as traveling to large age group track meets. Some 200 of our athletes have participated in the East Coast Invitational Track Meet in the United States during this period. The East Coast meet or ECI is the largest age group meet in the eastern United States and attracts some of the best youth athletes in the region. Club teams have also participated in the Ambler City Cross Country Championships in Ambler City, Philadelphia, and in the Russell E. Blunt Invitational Track and Field Championships, hosted by the Durham Striders Track Club in Durham, North Carolina.

Club Success Stories
The Club prides itself in having provided incentive programs for promising athletes such as:
Troy Glasgow, a 1983 record holder in the 17-18 Boys high jump with a leap of 7' 1.25;
Terri Lynn Paynter, a 1987 record holder in the 17-18 Girls javelin with a throw of 128' 6;
middle-distance runners Kavin Smith, Terrance Armstrong and Albert "Jay" Donawa;
and world class triple jumper Brian Wellman who won the silver medal in the 1995 World Championships (outdoor) and is the reigning World Indoor Champion.

The athletes mentioned above have 'graduated' from the Club but many are following in their wake such as: Devon Bean, who became the first Bermudian to be inducted into the Gold Division in the ECI Hall of Fame in 1993 when he captured the gold medal in the 17-18 Boys triple jump (his 6th ECI Championship); Rohaan Simons who earned a place in the Silver Division in the ECI Hall of Fame with a double victory at the 1993 event; Jarita Dill, Gina Cann, Seyoum Tuzo and Stephen Woodley who hold places in the Bronze Division of the ECI Hall of Fame (3 Championships); Michael Donawa who won gold medals in the 1500m and the 5000m at the 1994 ECI; and 12 year old Nasir Wade who was named the Outstanding Athlete in the 9-10 Boys Division at the 1993 ECI as a result of his record shattering leap of 15' 1 in the long jump which placed him at the top of the ECI rankings in the age group.

Prestigious Awards
Pacer athletes have been amongst the recipients of major sports awards given at individual schools and they have also filled the ranks of nominees for the coveted Denton Hurdle Memorial Award which is given annually to graduating primary and secondary students (a boy and a girl in each category) who demonstrate athletic ability in more than one sport, good sportsmanship, scholarship, and leadership ability. Pacer athletes who have won the prestigious award include: Shequita Parsons, Michael Donawa (who won it as a primary student and as a secondary student), Monique Hunt, Gina Cann, Garon Wilkinson, Jelani Scott, Stephen Woodley, Patrina Swan, Shimika Telford and Nasir Wade.

Organization
The Club is affiliated with the Bermuda Track and Field Association and is administered by an executive body drawn from its membership and elected to two-year terms.

Mr. Jay Tucker who joined the volunteer coaching staff in September 1993 assists Head Coach Mr. Calvin Simons, who has served in this capacity for 15 years.

Training is held every Tuesday and Thursday at the National Sports center from 4:30PM to 5:45PM.

For further information call Mr. Wayne M.Raynor at 441-237-0088.
Bermuda Pacers Track Club, P.O. Box Warwick WK 74, Warwick WK BX, Bermuda