标签： Saint Lucia

The George Odlum Stadium in Vieux Fort witnessed extraordinary athletic performances during the opening of the Independence Games Track & Field Championships on February 14th, as two emerging high jump talents delivered career-best performances that secured their positions for the upcoming CARIFTA Games.

Destinee Cenac, the reigning Female Student Athlete of the Year from Morne Stars, elevated her already impressive record by clearing 1.71 meters in the high jump competition. This remarkable achievement not only shattered her previous personal best but also matched the gold medal-winning height from last year’s CARIFTA Games in Trinidad & Tobago, where she earned bronze in the Under-17 division. Her performance exceeded the Saint Lucia Athletics Association’s qualifying standard by a significant margin.

Equally impressive was 15-year-old Randall Monroe from the Saint Lucia Sports Academy, who delivered a breakthrough performance by clearing 1.90 meters. His exceptional leap comfortably surpassed the 1.83m qualifying threshold and established a new personal best, continuing Saint Lucia’s distinguished tradition in high jump athletics that has produced more CARIFTA medals than any other discipline for the island nation.

These outstanding performances bring Saint Lucia’s total qualified athletes for Grenada 2026 to at least four competitors. The regional junior athletics festival will take place over Easter weekend from April 4-6.

The championships also featured notable performances in throwing events. Elite’s Albert Reynolds, a former OECS record holder and CARIFTA champion, dominated the men’s javelin throw with a 65.31m effort. In shot put competitions, Sean Pilgrim of Pacesetters led the Under-20 category with 12.29m, while Kyle Gilbert of Morne Stars achieved 11.82m and Elijah Fred of Survivors recorded 11.89m in the Under-17 division.

Gilbert doubled as discus throw champion with a 36.22m throw, while Jennica Albert of Morne Stars claimed victories in both the Under-20 shot put (9.26m) and women’s discus throw (25.35m). Clowie William of SLSA won the women’s javelin throw with 31.77m, though falling short of the qualifying standard.

The championships will continue with long jump, triple jump, and track events scheduled for February 28 and March 1 at Soufriere Stadium.

The Saint Lucia National Independence Tennis Tournament has become a showcase of regional dominance as a 20-strong contingent from Guadeloupe continues to overpower local competitors across multiple categories. With over 100 athletes participating in the championship, the Guadeloupe team has demonstrated remarkable prowess, securing medals in every event they entered and claiming numerous titles at the National Tennis Centre.

In the junior divisions, Guadeloupe’s young talents displayed exceptional skill. Keissy Prevost captured the Red Ball Under-10 championship by defeating Saint Lucia’s Akella Alexander in the finals. The Prevost family celebrated double success as Jessy Prevost claimed the Girls’ Orange Ball Under-10 title against local favorite Aria Raymond. Kyle Charles completed the Guadeloupe sweep in Boys’ Orange Ball Under-10s, overcoming Daren Carien for the championship.

A rare highlight for Saint Lucia emerged in the Green Ball Under-10 division, where Rowan Munoz-Smith triumphed over compatriot Leon Nunez in an all-local final. However, Guadeloupe continued their dominance in older age groups, with Maissa Dossa and Lauren Pellan securing a one-two finish in Girls’ Under-12 category.

The tournament’s senior divisions followed similar patterns. Vadim Aussepe Vinette from Guadeloupe already secured the Boys’ Under-16 championship, while Irene Mallet-Pinsolle claimed the Women’s Open title by defeating Saint Lucia’s Jaelyn Henry. The Men’s Open final promises an intriguing matchup between doubles partners Darrion Roberts and Aaron Gerald, scheduled for Tuesday alongside several other finals including Boys’ Under-12 and Under-14 categories.

Tournament organizers noted that while the Guadeloupe team’s performance has been exceptional, the event has provided valuable competitive experience for Saint Lucian players against high-caliber regional talent.

In a stunning display of athletic prowess, Frangipani House emerged victorious at the Sir Ira Simmons Secondary School track and field championships, held February 12th at the prestigious Daren Sammy Cricket Ground. Overcoming an 18-point deficit from preliminary road race events, Frangipani executed a remarkable comeback through dominant performances in field events and track finals, ultimately securing the championship title with an impressive 813 points.

The competition witnessed intense rivalry among the top contenders. Cassia House, initially leading after strong road race performances, finished second with 767 points. Defending champions Flambouyant mounted a vigorous defense but ultimately settled for third place with 758 points, while Calabash House finished fourth with 655 points.

Frangipani’s victory was significantly propelled by the extraordinary performance of Armani Phillips in the Under-16 division. Phillips achieved a spectacular triple victory, claiming gold in the 100m (11.8 seconds), 200m (24.4 seconds), and 400m (59.2 seconds) events. His exceptional contribution extended beyond individual events as he anchored his team to a decisive victory in the 4x100m relay, having previously won the shot put competition, amassing 32 individual points for his house.

The games showcased remarkable talent across multiple age categories. In Division 3, Thassari Similien (Flambouyant) dominated the girls’ sprints with victories in the 100m (13.8 seconds) and 200m (28.6 seconds), while Shanice Gabriel (Frangipani) excelled in middle-distance events, winning the 400m (1:12.2) and 800m (3:08.3).

Under-18 competition featured standout performances from Alice Phillips (Calabash), who claimed the 400m (1:14.1), 800m (3:08.6), and open 1500m (7:25.7) titles. The boys’ U18 category saw a thrilling rivalry between Cornelius Edmund (Calabash) and Uraus Poleon (Frangipani), with Edmund securing the 100m title (11.7 seconds) and Poleon claiming victory in the 200m (24.8 seconds).

Younger athletes demonstrated exceptional promise, particularly Phoebe Jolie (Cassia) who dominated the Under-14 girls’ category with three gold medals in the 80m (11.5 seconds), 150m (21.0 seconds), and 300m (52.1 seconds). The Under-14 boys’ division witnessed Dowayne Jn Paul (Flambouyant) achieving a remarkable triple victory in the 300m (51.8 seconds), 600m (1:58.3), and 1200m (4:58.0), while teammate Nadius Hippolyte swept the sprint events with victories in the 80m (10.8 seconds) and 150m (20.4 seconds).

Saint Lucia’s athletic community gathered in grand celebration at the 44th National Sports Awards Ceremony, recognizing exceptional sporting achievements throughout the 2025 competitive season. The prestigious event, held at the Royalton Hotel on February 14th, honored the nation’s most distinguished athletes, coaches, administrators, and corporate supporters who contributed to a landmark year in Saint Lucian sports.

Olympic champion Julien Alfred secured back-to-back Sportswoman of the Year titles following another historic season that saw her become Saint Lucia’s first-ever medalist at the World Athletics Championships with a bronze in the women’s 100m. Cricket sensation Ackeem Auguste claimed Sportsman of the Year honors after his remarkable double century performance in the Windward Islands tournament final.

The junior categories showcased emerging talent with swimmer Antoine Destang earning Junior Sportsman of the Year for his record-breaking feats, including seven OECS records and four national records. Sprint prodigy Jady Emmanuel was crowned Junior Sportswoman of the Year after making history as Saint Lucia’s first CARIFTA Games sprint titlist, capturing gold in both the 100m and 200m dashes.

Sports Minister Kenson Casimir addressed attendees, declaring 2025 “a truly outstanding year for Saint Lucia” and emphasizing that “our athletes have continued to demonstrate that regardless of our size as a nation, our talent, ambition, and determination place us firmly on the global stage.”

The ceremony comprehensively recognized sporting excellence across categories including technical officials, administrators, coaches, teams, media personalities, corporate sponsors, educational institutions, and special achievement honorees. Notable team awards went to the National Golf Team, National Boxing Team, Senior Male Cricket Team, and multiple volleyball teams for their regional championship performances.

Special recognition included Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Francis George, Minister’s Award winner Florian Combie, and special honoree Cuthbert “Twa-Ti-Nay” Modeste. The Saint Lucia Athletics Association received Association of the Year, while Chris Wells earned Coach of the Year honors, and Anse Chastanet/Jade Mountain was named Sponsor of the Year.

BERKELEY, Calif. – Virginia Tech’s women’s basketball team secured their 20th win of the season with a decisive 68-58 victory over California Golden Bears at Haas Pavilion on February 15, powered by a career-defining performance from junior guard Samyha Suffren.

The matchup began with intense back-and-forth action, with Virginia Tech capitalizing on favorable early opportunities. Coming off the bench, Suffren emerged as the Hokies’ offensive catalyst, scoring the team’s final four points in the opening quarter despite trailing 13-12 after the first period.

When California built a 21-16 advantage in the second quarter, Suffren engineered a spectacular 10-0 scoring run with eight consecutive points, swinging momentum permanently in Virginia Tech’s favor. The Hokies entered halftime with a 33-29 lead they would never relinquish.

Though California won the third quarter numerically, Virginia Tech maintained their composure and held a narrow 44-43 edge entering the final frame. Suffren continued her dominance in the fourth quarter, finishing with career highs in minutes played (29:31), points (19), field goals (7-12), and free throws (5-7).

Beyond her offensive explosion, Suffren demonstrated exceptional defensive prowess, adding to her team-leading 44 steals this season. The junior guard credited head coach Megan Duffy with refining her defensive focus, noting that “offense will come naturally” when defensive intensity is maintained.

With this victory, Virginia Tech becomes the third ACC team this season to complete a California road sweep, joining conference powers Duke and Louisville. The Hokies improved to 20-7 overall and 10-5 in ACC competition. Supporting Suffren’s effort, guard Carleigh Wenzel recorded her 11th consecutive double-digit scoring performance with 15 points, including the team’s only three-pointer of the contest.

Sulphur Springs House delivered a spectacular performance at the annual Soufrière Infant School Track Championships, securing a decisive victory at the Soufrière Stadium. The event, which concluded on February 12, saw the yellow-clad athletes establish an insurmountable lead early in the competition.

Beginning the final day with a commanding 209-point advantage over their nearest rivals, Caribbean Sea, Sulphur Springs extended their dominance by adding another six points to their margin. The final tally stood at an impressive 1,105 points for the champions, leaving Caribbean Sea trailing significantly at 890 points. Last year’s runners-up, Botanical Gardens, accumulated 751 points, while defending champions Piton managed only 717 points in their title defense.

The championship witnessed exceptional individual performances across multiple age categories. Victor Daniel Felix emerged as a standout athlete for Sulphur Springs, capturing three gold medals in the Under-9 boys division. His achievement symbolized the collective excellence of the winning house.

In the Under-9 girls category, Nikita Henry of Caribbean Sea demonstrated remarkable skill, earning three gold medals and one silver medal despite her team’s overall second-place finish.

The Under-8 competitions featured extraordinary talent, particularly Shervel Prospere of Caribbean Sea, who achieved four first-place finishes among the girls. What made her accomplishment particularly notable was her routine training and competition against significantly older athletes. Jahmiel Stanislas of Piton also excelled in this age group, securing three gold medals.

Sulphur Springs demonstrated particular strength in the Under-7 category, where Javier St Brice dominated as the top boy with two gold medals. The girls’ division saw a shared victory between Kalissa Henry of Sulphur Springs and Kishanly Deligny of Piton, each earning one gold medal.

Younger age groups continued to showcase emerging talent. S’zyon Meluce of Sulphur Springs topped the Under-6 girls category with one gold and one silver medal. The boys’ division saw joint champions Simon Dolor and Lorenzo Sylvestre, both representing Caribbean Sea, each earning one gold and one silver medal.

In the Pre-K category, Kaisen Alexander secured back-to-back gold medals for Sulphur Springs, earning him the boys’ crown. Meanwhile, Asia Alexander of Caribbean Sea commanded two gold medals among the girls, demonstrating promising talent for future competitions.

The event was documented through professional photography by Terry Finisterre, capturing the intensity and achievement of these young athletes throughout the championship meet.