Amidst torrential rainfall at Beausejour, Gros Islet, club-affiliated athletes demonstrated exceptional prowess at the Secondary Schools Road Race on Thursday, December 11. Sir Arthur Lewis Community College emerged as the dominant force with Omarion Edwin and McKayla Oliver clinching top honors in their respective divisions during the challenging five-kilometer competition.
The race commenced at the northeastern perimeter of Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, with participants navigating a circuit around the facility before proceeding northward along Beausejour Promenade. The route continued past the Saint Lucia Sports Academy toward Bella Rosa Road before culminating back at the cricket ground.
Edwin, a seasoned competitor from Survivors Track Club with two CARIFTA appearances, secured the Under-18 boys’ title with an impressive time of 18:28. He outpaced Micoud Secondary’s Tafari Martin (18:44) and Choiseul’s Demille Theodore (18:57). In the Under-16 category, Soufriere’s Chaz Alexander delivered a standout performance with a winning time of 18:52, surpassing Tai Joseph (SLSA) and Jamal Cadette (Soufriere).
SALCC further demonstrated its athletic depth through Daniel Hippolyte’s victory in the U20 boys’ race (19:59), with teammate Daniel Martin securing second place. St Mary’s College’s Jaylan McDonald claimed the U14 title in 21:45, leading Wayndell Etienne (Patricia D James Secondary) and Jervon Charlery (Vieux Fort Comprehensive).
On the girls’ side, Road Busters athlete McKayla Oliver mastered the adverse conditions to win the U20 division in 23:02, finishing 30 seconds ahead of U14 champion Kayleigh Landers who placed second overall. U18 winner Angelle Joseph completed the top three finishers. The podium was rounded out by SALCC’s Clerissa Placide and SLSA’s Layla Jn Baptiste.
Joseph captured the U18 girls’ crown in 23:39 representing Clendon Mason Memorial, while CARIFTA athlete Isabelle Emilienne (SLSA) earned bronze. SLSA achieved a remarkable 1-2 finish in the U16 girls category through Laila Nicholas (25:06) and Aria Andrew, with Soufriere’s Kena Butcher taking third. Landers secured her U14 victory in 23:32 for VFCSS, outperforming Daniella Lambert (St Joseph’s Convent) and Briann Jean (SLSA).