分类： sports

The opening weekend of the NCAA outdoor track and field season witnessed historic performances from Saint Lucian athletes competing across various American universities. Two national records fell as these collegiate competitors launched their campaigns with exceptional results.

Lauralynn Clifford, a senior transfer now competing for University of Texas San Antonio, immediately made her mark at the UTSA Invitational on March 20. The hammer throw specialist captured bronze with a monumental fifth-round effort measuring 58.11 meters (190 feet, 8 inches). This performance not only established a new Saint Lucian national record but also ranked as the second-best throw in UTSA program history. Clifford’s achievement surpassed her previous national standard of 56.55 meters set earlier in 2024 and would have placed second in last season’s American Conference championships.

Simultaneously, at the West Texas Relays in Canyon, Texas, Naya Jules delivered a spectacular multi-event performance on March 21. The reigning CARIFTA champion soared to new heights in the pole vault, clearing 3.20 meters to break both her national and school records. Jules demonstrated remarkable versatility by also competing in three additional events: she shattered a 23-year-old school record in javelin with a 41.33-meter throw that met NJCAA national qualifying standards, while also making her collegiate debut in the 100m hurdles (17.53 seconds) and 200m sprint (26.96 seconds).

The weekend also featured numerous other Saint Lucian athletes achieving notable results across various meets: Natalie Albert secured silver in hammer throw (52.35m) at the Rhodes Invitational; Zayn Phillip dominated youth competitions with double gold in 200m (29.06) and 55m (8.15) at USATF Indoor Nationals; and Khailan Vitalis earned bronze in 60m hurdles (14.08) at the UCF Black & Gold Challenge. These collective achievements highlight the growing impact of Saint Lucian talent within the American collegiate track and field circuit.

The Daren Sammy Cricket Ground was electrified on March 22nd as the Island Champs track finals culminated in spectacular fashion, crowning St Joseph’s Convent (SJC) and Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School (VFCSS) as the undisputed champions. The event marked the thrilling conclusion to six days of intense competition that had begun with field events and preliminary track races, showcasing the pinnacle of secondary school athletics in Saint Lucia.

SJC’s blue-and-white contingent secured a historic third consecutive girls’ championship title, amassing a monumental 281 points. This remarkable achievement solidifies their dynasty in school track and field. VFCSS followed in second place with 205 points, while Saint Lucia Sports Academy (SLSA) claimed third with 179 points. Micoud Secondary and Beanefield Comprehensive rounded out the top five with 109 and 98 points respectively.

On the boys’ side, VFCSS’s black-and-gold squad surged to victory with 260 points, dethroning defending champions St Mary’s College by a decisive 54-point margin and reclaiming the title they last held in 2024. SLSA edged out Micoud Secondary by just two points (139-137) for third place, with Leon Hess Comprehensive close behind at 132 points.

The final day featured extraordinary individual performances across age categories. Destinee Cenac emerged as a standout athlete for SJC, dominating the Under-18 division by winning both the 100m (12.4s) and 200m (25.6s) against fierce competition from Barbara-Marie Maximin of Beanefield. Cenac further demonstrated her versatility by anchoring SJC to victory in both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays.

In the Under-16 division, Mylee Chaddie of Micoud Secondary achieved double gold in the 100m (12.5s) and 200m (26.1s), while Aria Andrew of SLSA claimed victories in the 400m and 800m before leading her team to success in both relay events.

The Under-14 competitions saw Danielle Alphonse of VFCSS dominate the sprints, winning the 80m (10.6s) and 150m (20.0s). Among Under-14 boys, Nasri Edwin of VFCSS demonstrated exceptional versatility, adding sprint victories in the 80m (9.6s) and 150m (18.3s) to his high jump championship and shot put silver medal.

Randall Monroe of SLSA delivered a spectacular performance in the Under-16 boys’ category, claiming his third and fourth medals with victories in the 200m (23.0s) and 400m (52.2s) to complement his earlier successes in high jump and long jump.

The Under-18 boys’ events featured intense rivalries, with Curtis Auguste (Anse Ger TVET Institute) and Jermario Actille splitting gold and silver in both the 100m and 200m sprints. Elijah Isidore (VFCSS) triumphed in the 400m, while Dermille Theodore (Choiseul) secured a narrow victory in a fiercely contested 800m race.

The relay events provided dramatic conclusions to each age category, with multiple schools including SJC, VFCSS, SLSA, Choiseul, and Anse Ger TVET Institute capturing gold medals in the 4x100m and 4x400m competitions, demonstrating the depth of talent across Saint Lucia’s secondary school system.

Saint Lucian sprinter Julien Alfred has once again etched her name in the history books by capturing the bronze medal in the women’s 60m event at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Toruń, Poland. The 24-year-old athlete from Ciceron clocked 7.03 seconds on March 20, finishing behind Italy’s gold medalist Zaynad Dosso and American Jacious Sears.

Despite entering the competition with the joint-fastest time globally, Alfred acknowledged that mental hurdles nearly overshadowed her physical preparedness. The Olympic 100m champion revealed that her slow reaction to the starter’s pistol became a significant psychological burden during her second World Indoors appearance. ‘The 60m is extremely short, and the most crucial part was the start,’ Alfred confessed to World Athletics. ‘Even if it doesn’t look like that, it has been really stressing me out.’

The bronze medal represents a remarkable comeback for Alfred, who suffered a hamstring injury that forced her withdrawal from the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. Her recovery and return to elite competition make this achievement particularly meaningful. ‘I’m healthy,’ Alfred emphasized in a post-race interview. ‘I ended my last season unhealthy, but it’s something to learn from, and I’m just moving forward from here.’

Beyond physical rehabilitation, Alfred has engaged in substantial psychological work with a mental coach. ‘My biggest lesson now is learning how to lose, and how I bounce back from that is the most important thing,’ she explained. This fifth international medal marks not just athletic success but personal growth. ‘I had to learn the hard way to come out here and really just be Julien,’ she reflected. ‘Even though I mess up, the world keeps on spinning, and I have nothing to complain about.’

Looking ahead, Alfred identified the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as her primary focus for the year, where she aims to improve upon her silver medal performance in the 100m from the 2022 Games. Immediately following her bronze medal achievement, the sprinter expressed intentions to briefly explore Toruń before continuing her athletic journey, acknowledging she had been completely focused on competition since arriving in Poland.