In a landmark development for Caribbean athletics, the inaugural Zepherinus Joseph Cross-Country Meet commenced on November 22 at Dames Recreation Park in Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia. The historic event featured participation from three secondary schools and 38 athletes, marking a significant advancement in the nation’s distance running program.
Micoud Secondary School (MSS) emerged victorious in the boys’ division, while Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School (LHCSS) claimed top honors in the girls’ competition. The event’s namesake organizer, Zepherinus Joseph—a national marathon record holder and 2002 Olympian—expressed profound satisfaction with the successful realization of his long-envisioned project.
The boys’ competition witnessed an impressive performance by Michael Eliotte of MSS, who completed the course in 15:33, establishing a commanding 30-second lead over his closest competitors. Shaquan Xavier (16:01) and Trale Constantine (16:12), both representing LHCSS, secured second and third positions respectively. Micoud Secondary ultimately accumulated 28 points to claim the team title.
Under favorable sunny conditions, the girls’ division saw Akiaha Weekes and Jayula Sayers lead LHCSS to a 32-point victory across the 4.6-kilometer terrain. Weekes finished with a time of 20:11 (13th overall), followed closely by Sayers at 20:32 (15th overall). Febe Thomas of Micoud recorded 21:44, earning third place among female participants.
Joseph, who previously excelled in cross-country at Central Arizona College and University of North Florida, emphasized the sport’s crucial role in developing athletic prowess. “Cross-country builds fundamental strength and stamina that benefits athletes across all disciplines, particularly track and field,” he explained.
The Olympian revealed his broader vision: “My objective is to cultivate Saint Lucia’s long-distance program and nurture future Olympic competitors. Having been the nation’s sole long-distance representative at the Olympics, I aspire to provide others with similar opportunities—potentially even Olympic medalists.”
Despite the successful debut, Joseph acknowledged logistical challenges that limited participation to secondary schools. “I’m disappointed we couldn’t include primary school athletes initially, but they will definitely participate next year,” he committed. The organizer also noted scheduling conflicts with examinations affected broader school participation, prompting plans to move the 2026 event to late September or early October.
The event garnered support from Verneta Lesporis, Curriculum Officer for Physical Education at the Ministry of Education and herself an Olympian and national record holder in the 400m. She hailed the meet as “groundbreaking” for Saint Lucian athletics, noting: “For years we’ve discussed the absence of cross-country events for our distance runners. This initiative exposes athletes to international competitive standards and creates scholarship opportunities.”
Lesporis emphasized the global relevance of cross-country, stating: “It’s 2025—cross-country is a major worldwide event. Our students deserve exposure to this competitive platform beyond traditional track and road events.”
Joseph extended gratitude to sponsors and volunteers whose support made the inaugural event possible, while expressing optimism about expanding the competition into a premier annual event on Saint Lucia’s sports calendar.