Emerging track and field sensation Destinee Cenac has achieved early qualification for the 53rd CARIFTA Games through her exceptional performance at the inaugural CARIFTA Qualifier in Martinique. The 15-year-old high jump prodigy from Morne Stars Athletics Club cleared 1.65 meters to claim victory in the women’s high jump event at Stade Louis-Achille in Fort-de-France last Sunday.
Cenac, who attends St. Joseph’s Convent, strategically entered the competition at the exact CARIFTA qualifying standard of 1.60m, successfully clearing the height on her second attempt. She demonstrated remarkable consistency by conquering 1.65m on her first try before attempting a personal best of 1.71m. This early qualification makes her among the first Saint Lucian athletes to meet the Saint Lucia Athletics Association standards for the 2026 Games scheduled for April 4-6 in Grenada.
The talented athlete, who earned bronze in the Under-17 girls’ high jump at the 52nd CARIFTA Games in Trinidad & Tobago with a personal best of 1.68m, also showcased her sprinting prowess by winning the Under-17 women’s 100m in 12.57 seconds against a slight headwind.
Other notable performances at the Martinique qualifier included Lenyn Leonce’s victory in the men’s 100m (10.66 seconds) and Slorana Duplessis’s second-place finish in high jump (1.40m). Meanwhile, back in Saint Lucia, athletes competed at the Jumps and Throws Festival at George Odlum Stadium, where several competitors approached CARIFTA qualifying standards. Barbara-Marie Maximin came agonizingly close in the Under-17 girls’ long jump with a 5.30m effort, just one centimeter shy of the 5.31m standard. Jequan Joseph also impressed in the javelin throw with a 54.99m performance, nearing the 56m qualification mark.
The event showcased promising talent across multiple disciplines, with several athletes demonstrating potential to achieve qualification in upcoming events including the Independence Games and SLAA CARIFTA Qualifiers.