The Daren Sammy Cricket Ground erupted in excitement on Wednesday, March 18th, as the 2026 Island Champs commenced with a spectacular display of youthful athletic prowess. The event witnessed the crowning of its first champions in a series of gripping middle-distance finals, setting the stage for an electrifying weekend of sprint showdowns.
Neah Mortley of Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School (LHCSS) seized the spotlight in the Under-14 girls’ 1000m, delivering a strategic performance to clinch gold with a time of 3:37.8, narrowly outpacing Hailey Charles from Vieux Fort Comprehensive. Not to be outdone, Aiden Biscette of the Saint Lucia Sports Academy (SLSA) dominated the boys’ 1200m, securing victory in 4:01.6 ahead of Railey Thomas of Corinth Secondary.
The 1500m events proved equally thrilling across multiple divisions. St. Joseph’s Convent (SJC) celebrated a double victory as Aniyah George triumphed in the Under-16 category (5:46.8) and Leneese Robinson claimed the Under-18 title (6:00.2). McKayla Olivier of Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC) topped the Under-20 women’s podium with a 5:54.6 finish. In boys’ competition, Jaelen McDonald of St. Mary’s College (SMC) won the Under-16 race in 4:53.7, while Soufriere Comprehensive’s undefeated sensation Chaz Alexander blazed through his division with an impressive 4:40.4. SALCC’s Omarion Edwin rounded out the distance events by capturing the Under-20 boys’ crown in 4:44.6.
With middle-distance finals concluded, attention now turns to Sunday’s highly anticipated sprint finals following compelling semifinal performances. An epic Under-18 girls’ 100m confrontation is brewing between Barbara-Marie Maximin of Beanefield Comprehensive (12.4s) and SJC’s Destinee Cenac. Micoud Secondary’s Mylee Chaddie emerged as the athlete to beat in Under-16 girls, posting leading times in both the 100m (12.5s) and 200m (26.8s).
Boys’ sprint events promise equal excitement. Jermario Actille of Beanefield won his heats in the Under-18 100m and 200m, though Curtis Auguste of Anse Ger TVET Institute posted the overall fastest times (10.8s and 22.7s). The Under-16 division features a quartet of contenders—Renard Bernard, Randall Monroe, Armani Phillips, and Leonel Mathurin—who dominated their respective events. Monroe particularly impressed by adding top 400m (52.8s) and 200m (23.50s) times to his previously won long jump and high jump titles.
Defending team champions St. Mary’s College (boys) and St. Joseph’s Convent (girls) enter Sunday’s finals positioned strongly, though they face formidable challenges from Vieux Fort Comprehensive, Soufriere Comprehensive, and the Saint Lucia Sports Academy in what promises to be a climactic conclusion to the championship meet.