T&T's Leah Bertrand and Kion Benjamin sprinted to silver

T&T's Leah Bertrand and Kion Benjamin sprinted to silver and bronze medals, respectively while Dillon Leacock, the lone competitor in the men's 400m hurdles, claimed gold in the evening session on the first day of the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) U-23 and U-18 Championships, on Friday in Costa Rica.

At the National Stadium in San Jose, Bertrand placed second with 11.70 (.693) seconds, edging Antigua and Barbuda 's Joella Lloyd 11.70 (.697) at the line in the women's Under-20 100 metres. Winning the gold medal was Bahamian Camille Rutherford with 11.36.

Olympic-bound Benjamin picked up T&T's second medal in the men's U-23 version of the dash, a bronze medal with a time of 10.40 to finish behind winner Kuron Griffith of Barbados with 10.33 and Jamaican Odaine McPherson (10.39).

T&T other athlete in the event, Tyrell Edwards, placed fifth with a 10.56-clocking.

Earlier in the morning session, Benjamin advanced to the medal race after winning semifinal one of two in a time of 10.53 to be an automatic qualifier at the first three places of each heat, plus the next two fastest times progressed.

Edwards moved on as one of the fastest losers, crossing fifth in the other semifinal heat with a 10.68-timing. Winning the second heat was Griffith with a windy 10.34 (4.1).

Leacock raced the clock in the U-20 men's 4oom hurdles and stopped it at 53.45 to attain the gold medal.

Meanwhile, Iantha Wright, who was to compete in the women's U-23 100m event, but she did not start.