Kavin Smith
Dubbed “Bermuda’s Road King” started his running career with Bermuda Pacers in 1976. He traveled to the East Coast Invitational Track Meet from 1979 to 1983 competing as a middle distance runner in the 800, 1500 and 3000 meters.
He has been one of the most successful Bermudians at the Carifta Games, having won six medals. In 1982, he competed in his first Carifta Games winning gold medals in the Under 17 boys 800 meters, running 1:56:7 and winning gold in the Under 17 boys 1500 meters, running 4:07:80, thus breaking records for both events. In 1983 he continued his winning streak running 1:59:80 in the 800 meters and 4:07:91 in the 1500 meters. Two years later, he won a silver medal in the 1500 meters running 4:05.47 and a bronze medal in the 800 meters running 1:56:09. He was awarded the Bermuda Sports Award in 1992, 1995 and 1998. He holds an unrivaled nine May 24th marathon titles with victories in 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003.
He has competed in numerous marathons abroad, including the New York City Marathon in 1997 and 2004, The LaSalle Bank Marathon in Chicago in 2004 and the Royal Victoria Marathon in Canada in 2005. In 2009 he traveled to Florida to compete in the NACAC Cross Country Championships. Kavin is presently employed at the Bermuda Telephone Company as a Universal Repairman/ Installer. He states that his success as a runner was a highlight towards the kind of employer the company hires. Over the years he has taken time from his busy work schedule to speak at Bermuda’s primary, middle and high schools to share what it takes to succeed as an athlete and the positive effects track and field has on one’s life.
Devon Bean
Started with Bermuda Pacers Track Club in 1983 and his first competition saw him winning medals in the long jump and the triple jump events. In 1993, Devon was the first and only Bermudian to be inducted into the East Coast Invitational Gold Medal Hall of Fame. He first competed at Carifta Games when he was 12 years old, however his medal success came in 1991 when he won two gold medals in the long jump ( 7.01 meters) and triple jump ( 14.58 meters). In 1992 he won a medal as a member of the 4 x 400 Carifta Relay Team. In 1986 he set a record in the Boys Long Jump under 10, jumping 4.86 meters and this record still stands today. He went undefeated in the 100 meters throughout his high school career and still holds the interschool over 15 boys 100 meter record running 10.64 in 1992. In 1994, Devon embarked on his collegiate track and field career at Long Beach City College where his athletic prowess continued and in 1996 he set the school record in the 100m, set the Bermuda National Record in the 100m and qualified for the Atlanta Olympic Games. He has also represented Bermuda at the Pan American Games and the Central American and Caribbean Championships as both a junior and senior athlete. He attended the University of Arkansas on a full athletic scholarship and graduated in 2001 with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. Upon completion of university, Devon always dreamt of giving back to the sport that has given so much to him and therefore he went on to sit the International Association of Athletics Federation ( IAAF ) coaching exams and is one of two Chief Coaches on island having achieved the highest level of coaching certification. After his certification, he started his own track and field club, D.A.S.H. which stands for Disciplined Application of Speed through Hard work. During his time as head coach of D.A.S.H, he has coached an athlete who broke two junior national records in the 100 and 400 meters. He hopes that he can provide the opportunities to other athletes similar to the opportunities that the Pacers Track Club provided to him. In 2016, Devon was appointed Director of Athletics for the Bermuda National Athletics Association overseeing the development of track and field in Bermuda.
Brian Wellman
Began his athletic career as a Bermuda Pacers athlete in 1983. He attended his first East Coast Invitational Track Meet in 1984 and competed in long jump, triple jump and high jump. In 1985, he won a gold medal in the triple jump. Following his East Coast Invitational experience, in 1986 he competed in his first Carifta Games in Guadeloupe, winning the triple jump with a jump of 15.87 meters. That same year he competed in the World Junior Championships in Athens, Greece and placed 8th. Brian competed collegiately for the University of Arkansas where he won two NCAA outdoor triple jump titles in 1991 and 1992. In 1991 he competed in the IAAF World Championships and Universidad Games in Sheffield, England, placing 1st with a leap of 17.07 meters. Brian participated in four Olympic Games, the years 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000. His best performances came in the 1992 where he placed 5th with a jump of 17.16 meters and in 1996 when he placed 6th with a jump of 17.10 meters. He proudly carried the Bermuda flag in these two Olympics. He continued his gold medal success in 1995 at the World Indoor Championships jumping 17.72 meters, setting a new world mark and this record stood for 9 years. That same year during the World Outdoor Championships he placed 2nd with a leap of 17.62 meters. At the Central American and Caribbean Championships, he placed 1st in 1999 with a jump of 17.01 meters and in 2001 he placed 1st with a leap of 17.21 meters. In 1994 and 2002 Brian competed in the Commonwealth Games placing 3rd at Victoria, Canada with a leap of 17.00 meters and 8th in Manchester, England with a leap of 15.84 meters. He was ranked among the top ten triple jumpers in the world by Track and Field News on seven occasions – 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2001. He was honored as the Bermuda Athlete of the Year on five occasions, 1991 to 1996. In 2009 he was inducted into the Bermuda Sports Hall of Fame.
Albert “Jay “Donawa
Joined the Bermuda Pacer’s Track Club in 1982 and competed with the club until 1989. In 1984 he received a silver medal in 11-12 boys 800 meters while competing at The East Coast Invitational and in 1988 he received a gold medal at the Ambler Olympic Club Cross Country Meet in Philadelphia. In 1989, he received a silver medal in the 5000 meters while running at the East Coast Meet and that same year he won a silver medal in the 5000 meters running 15:42:88 at the Carifta Games in Barbados. After attending Warwick Secondary High School, where he won numerous awards, he attended Camden High School in New Jersey and was named South New Jersey High School Cross Country “Runner of the Year “in 1990. Also that year, Jay set the Bermuda National Junior 3000 meter track record of 8:35:00 at the Penn Relays and this record still stands 27 years later. He was also named High School All American in the 3200 meters. In 1991, Jay was awarded the Bermuda Government Achievement Award for Athletic Excellence in Track and Field. In 1992 Jay received an athletic scholarship to Auburn University and graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in Education (Health Promotion). While at Auburn he was a member of the cross country team, receiving the NJCAA All American Cross Country Award in 1992, and in 1993 he received The All SEC Cross Country Team award. After graduating, Jay returned to Bermuda and represented his country at the 1997 and 2001 Central American and Caribbean Championship (CAC) Cross Country, and as a member of the Bermuda team, he won bronze medals on both occasions. In 2005, he represented Bermuda at the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Cross Country Championship in St. Etienne, France. In 2007, Jay represented Bermuda and won a gold medal and a bronze medal in the Island Games in Rhodes, Greece. On the home front Jay was an eleven time Bermuda National Cross Country Champion between 1996 – 2010 and eight time runner –up in the Bermuda Day Marathon Derby. Jay currently is a Lieutenant in the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service and he attributes track and field as the sport that has instilled discipline and team work that is paramount in his professional career.
Terrance Armstrong
Joined the Bermuda Pacers Track Club in 1983 and traveled to the East Coast Invitational Track Meet from 1985 to 1988. At these meets he competed in the 800, 1500 and 5000 meters as well as javelin. While attending Whitney Institute, he placed first in cross country in 1983, 1985 and 1986 and he was undefeated in the 800, 1500 and 3000 meters. In 1987, Terrance left Bermuda to attend Camden High School in New Jersey and in 1988 he placed first in the 1500 meters running 4:07. In 1990 he placed 1st in the 1500 at the Junior Caribbean Athletic Championships (CAC) in Cuba and in 1997 he placed 3rd in the 1500 meters at the Senior CAC Track Championships. In 1998 he won a bronze medal in the 1500 meters at the CAC Games. Terrance attended Rider University and set the school record in the steeple chase at the Penn Relays in 1994 running 9:11:55. Also in 1999, he placed 8th in the steeplechase at the Commonwealth Games. His running career spans from running in the 1999 CAC Games and winning a silver medal in the 1500 meters and that same year he placed 8th in the 1500 meters at the Pan American Games. He still holds the Bermuda National record in the 1500 meters running 3:41:97 as well as the steeplechase record. He has placed first in three Bermuda Half Marathon Derbies. He attended Rider University on a full athletic scholarship and received his Bachelors Degree in Accounting. .He considers his highest achievement being inducted into the 2006 Hall of Fame Class at Rider University for Track and Cross Country.
Terry Lynn Paynter
Started her track and field career in 1985, and in 1986 under the watchful eye of coaches Calvin Simons and Jerry Swan, she qualified and competed in her first East Coast Invitational Track Meet winning a gold medal in the javelin. In 1987, she competed in her second East Coast Invitational and not only did she win gold in the javelin, she set a new record in the process and this record still stands today.
In 1987, she competed in her first Carifta Games and won a gold medal in the javelin with a throw of 40.06 meters. A year later she won a silver medal in the Carifta Games with a throw of 40.90 meters. Later in 1988, Terry travelled to the Junior Central American and Caribbean Championships (CAC) in Bahamas and she placed second in the javelin, bringing home the silver medal. Later that same year, she competed in her first Junior World Championships in Sudbury, Canada and placed 14th.
Her throwing career went from strength to strength, and in 1991 she competed in her first senior meet, which were the Pan American Games that were held in Havana, Cuba. In 1993, she travelled to the CAC Games in Colombia and won a silver medal in the javelin.
In the years that followed, she was unable to commit the time required to her craft and therefore, she reluctantly gave up her passion. However, after joining the Bermuda Police Force, she went on to continue her sporting career and she became the first female Police Officer to win the title of “Female Athlete of the Year” three years in a row.
Terry has traveled to Peru to attend a Coaches Throwing Course and she has also passed the IAAF Officials Course. In 2014, she was appointed as the Senior Throwing Coach and once she retires her dream is to coach full time.