Jessica Beard claimed a pair of victories in the women’s 200 and 400 metres at the Bermuda Invitational Area Permit Meet at the National Stadium last night.

Beard, of the United States, only discovered she was running the 200 the previous evening.

“I just out-leaned my training partner [Semoy Hackett] in the 200 [to win],” said the 29 year-old, who was part of the US’s 4?x?400 gold medal-winning teams at the 2013 and 2015 World Championships.

“I just wanted a good run in the 400, one where I really emulated the things I’m working on in practice and put it together when it counts.

“It’s been such a great experience and I didn’t know what to expect from Bermuda. I was able to come here and perform as well as I would anywhere else considering the wind and the track.”

Beard posted a time of 23.37 in the 200, with Trinidad’s Hackett second in 23.50, and Canyce McGrone, of US, third in 23.64. In the 400, Beard set a meet record in 51.31, finishing ahead of Jasmine Blocker, of the US, in 52.56 and third-place Jordan Lavender in 53.86.

Bermudian parathlete Jessica Lewis picked up a pair of wins in her two events: the 100 and 200. She finished the 100 in 19.60 and 200 in 34.10.

In the men’s para events, Alex Dupont picked up a two victories, finishing the 200 in 30.10 and 400 in 58.50.

Bridgette Owens, of the US, won the women’s 110 hurdles for the second successive year, setting a meet record in 13.21. Her compatriot Mackenzie Hill was second in 13.29 and Andrea Vargas, of Costa Rica, third in 13.30.

“It’s not a good time but that’s fine,” Owens said.

“I just wanted to be ‘shop ready’ and I thought this would be a good meet to run at. It’s an island and it’s always beautiful outside.”

In the men’s 110 hurdles Johnathan Cabral, of Canada, earned victory in 13.57, with Deuce Carter second in 13.77 and Josh Thompson, of the US, third in 13.93.

Puerto Rico’s YanCarlos Martinez won the men’s 200 in 20.89, with Marcus Chambers, of the US, second in 21.06 and Chidi Okezie, of Nigeria, in 21.08.

Wesley Vasquez, of Puerto Rico, won the men’s 800 in 1:48:80, beating fellow countryman Andres Arroyo, who placed second in 1:48:94. Anthonio Mascoll, of Barbados, came third in 1:49:79.

Jeff Demps, a former NFL running back for the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, won the men’s 100 in 10.26.

Bermuda’s Tre Houston finished seventh in 10.76, while compatriot Stephan Dill was eighth in 11.12.

Dill, 18, who attends the Berkeley Institute, described the race as an “amazing” experience.

“I was nervous at first because they said I was going with the big guys,” he said.

“It was a bit nerve-racking but I heard the crowd and it got me going.”

Javianne Oliver, of the US, took the honours in the women’s 100 with a meet record time of 11.36. Hackett was second in 11.50, with McGrone third in 11.58.