分类： sports

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.

Track sensation Julien Alfred stands as the presumptive favorite to secure Saint Lucia’s prestigious Sportswoman of the Year title for the second consecutive year. The 24-year-old Olympic 100-meter champion headlines the 44th National Sports Awards ceremony, scheduled for February 14 at the Royalton Hotel.

Alfred’s exceptional 2025 athletic campaign solidified her frontrunner status, featuring a bronze medal performance in the 100 meters at the World Athletic Championships and a successful defense of her Diamond League 100-meter title. The sprint phenom faces formidable competition from West Indies cricketer Zaida James, netball specialist Melika Destang, basketball athlete Meagan Nestor, and aquatic sports contender Mikaili Charlemagne.

Meanwhile, the Sportsman of the Year category showcases emerging cricket star Akeem Auguste leading a distinguished nomination field. Auguste’s breakthrough year included impressive half-century scores in both the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League and international competitions, establishing him as one of the Caribbean’s most promising cricket talents. He contends against table tennis player Deandre Calderon, boxer John Didier, shooting athlete Dilan Biscette, and track and field competitor Maverick Pamphile.

The ceremony will recognize excellence across 29 competitive categories, with the National Television Network (NTN) providing live coverage of the celebratory event. Junior athlete categories similarly feature outstanding young talents across diverse disciplines including table tennis, netball, athletics, cricket, aquatics, and cycling.

The second matchday of the Kenson Casmir Bay Bay Cup commenced on February 1st at Francis Baba Lastic Grounds in Gros Islet, with New Generation FC and Monchy United FC both securing decisive victories to strengthen their positions at the top of their groups.

New Generation FC, following their spectacular 9-0 opening triumph, encountered stiffer opposition from Gros Islet Youth Lions. Despite the challenge, the Babonneau-based squad secured a 2-0 win with early goals from Richelme Lionel in the 5th minute and Yanic Noel in the 15th.

Solomon Alexander, coach of New Generation FC, commented on the team’s performance: ‘The players were highly motivated to implement our training strategies. While Gros Islet Youth demonstrated strong periods of play, our team ultimately prevailed.’ Alexander expressed optimism that the team’s current success would help revitalize football enthusiasm in the Babonneau community, noting their consistent representation as regional standard-bearers after finishing second to Monchy United in the preseason Soccerama.

In simultaneous Group B action, Monchy United FC delivered an overwhelming performance against Police FC, routing them 8-0. Jahlil Evans dominated the first half with a hat-trick (27′, 34′, 42′), complemented by Troy Greenidge’s goal in the 40th minute. Both players added to their tally in the second half, while Raphael Joseph contributed a rapid brace in the 73rd and 76th minutes.

With these results, New Generation FC maintains Group A leadership with maximum six points and an impressive +11 goal difference, while Gros Islet Youth Lions hold second place. The tournament continues with critical matches that will determine semifinal qualification, including GMC’s must-win encounter against New Generation FC following their upcoming Grande Riviere derby against Dominators this Wednesday.

In a remarkable display of athletic prowess, the University of North Texas women’s basketball squad secured a commanding 67-49 victory against Florida Atlantic University this past Saturday at the Super Pit. The game showcased an extraordinary performance by Megan Nestor, the nation’s premier rebounder, who overcame aggressive defensive tactics to further solidify her record-breaking season.

Despite facing intentionally physical opposition that forced her to the bench within the opening three minutes due to foul trouble, the 6-foot-4 forward from Saint Lucia demonstrated exceptional resilience. Head coach Jason Burton’s initial strategy to center the offense around Nestor was immediately tested by FAU’s defensive approach, which specifically targeted the standout player through repeated physical challenges.

“The physicality’s different from what I’m accustomed to,” noted Nestor, a former national netball athlete. “However, my strength allows me to withstand such pressure. My focus remains on maintaining efficiency and converting scoring opportunities.”

The statistical outcome proved impressive as Nestor contributed 10 points alongside a game-high 24 rebounds, marking her 13th double-double of the season—the highest in collegiate women’s basketball. This performance represented her fourth 20-rebound game this year, a national achievement that surpasses all other players, none of whom have recorded more than two such games.

Coach Burton praised his team’s response following their previous performance in San Antonio: “We demonstrated significant improvement through two exceptional practice sessions that directly translated into today’s victory.”

Nestor’s current season averages of 12.6 points and 13.8 rebounds per game position her to potentially establish new program and conference records, with the rebounding average particularly standing as a potential historical benchmark. As of Sunday, she remains the only collegiate basketball player nationwide to have accumulated over 300 rebounds this season.

In a breathtakingly close finish, Gill House successfully defended its title at the 2026 Carmen Rene Memorial School (CRMS) sports meet, edging out Lewis House by a single point with a final tally of 303 to 302. The electrifying competition, held on Friday, January 30th at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, showcased the emergence of a new generation of athletic talent from the San Souci school. Walcott House secured a strong third-place finish with 296 points, while Rene House trailed with 235 points.

The meet was characterized by intensely competitive races across all age groups. In the Under-9 boys division, Aiden Berkeley of Walcott claimed victory in the 60m dash with a time of 10.2 seconds. The Under-11 boys witnessed Jmarney George of Rene achieving a double victory in both the 80m (12.1s) and 600m (2:09.7s), while Gill’s Jaylan Howell took gold in the 150m (23.4s).

A fascinating rivalry unfolded in the Under-13 boys category where Jaden Jacob of Walcott triumphed in the 80m (11.2s) and Gill’s Dante Delice won the 150m (20.9s), with less than two-tenths of a second separating them in their races. Hervany George secured the 300m for Walcott (50.25s), while Gavriel Daniel won the 600m (1:59.44s) for Gill.

The girls’ competitions proved equally compelling with victories distributed across houses. Anikka Alexander (Rene) and Nellisa Daniel (Lewis) shared honors in Under-9 events. Walcott’s Arielle Charles demonstrated remarkable versatility with wins in the Under-11 150m (24.0s) and 300m (54.7s) after placing third in the 80m.

Allina William emerged as a standout performer for Gill in the Under-13 girls category, dominating the 80m (11.9s) and 150m (22.6s) while capturing silver in the 300m (55.9s). Her performance was matched by Alexia Lloyd who claimed gold in both the 300m (52.6s) and 600m (2:13.9s) for her house.

Despite late surges from both Lewis and Walcott, Gill House maintained its composure to secure back-to-back championships, demonstrating exceptional depth across multiple disciplines and age groups.