标签： Saint Lucia

The second day of Island Champs at Daren Sammy Cricket Ground witnessed fierce competition as secondary school athletes battled for finals placement across multiple track events on Tuesday, March 10. Defending champions St Joseph’s Convent (girls) and St Mary’s College (boys) demonstrated their continued dominance while several challengers emerged to threaten their titles.

Preliminary rounds featured intense races in the 150m, 200m, 600m, 800m, 1000m, 1200m, 1500m, and 4x100m relays, with athletes pushing for qualification to the March 22 finals. Vieux Fort Comprehensive, Soufriere Comprehensive, and Saint Lucia Sports Academy remained strong contenders, while Leon Hess Comprehensive, Beanefield Comprehensive, Micoud Secondary, Choiseul Secondary, and the TVET Institute – School of Innovation & Technology (Anse Ger) maintained competitive presence.

Notable performances included Skai Sammy’s 20.3-second run in the 150m for SJC. In Under-14 girls competition, Brianne Jason of SLSA posted a remarkable 1:51.3 in the 600m, while Neah Mortley of LHCSS dominated the 1000m with a 2:45.0 finish, outpacing national swimmer Sapphire Parks of SJC by over a minute.

Among boys, Christiano Nestor of Choiseul impressed with an 18.6-second 150m, though he faces stiff competition from Nasri Edwin (VFCSS) and Devin Mesmain (SCSS). Aiden Biscette of SLSA led both the 600m (1:45.1) and 1500m (4:07.9), with Railey Thomas of Corinth consistently challenging.

In intermediate divisions, Shaimaelle Durand of VFCSS shone with a 27.0-second 200m, while Aria Andrew of SLSA won her 800m heat in 2:39.6. Renard Bernard of VFCSS demonstrated Under-16 prowess with a 23.4-second 200m, and Jake Roberts of SLSA clocked 2:17.0 in the 800m.

The senior division featured standout performances from double CARIFTA champion Jady Emmanuel of Choiseul, who dominated the 200m with a 26.9-second run ahead of CARIFTA teammates Barbara-Marie Maximin (Beanefield) and Isabella Emilienne (SLSA). Curtis Auguste of Anse Ger led the Under-18 boys 200m with 22.9 seconds, the only athlete to beat his teammate Rell Leonce.

The competition continues with Day 3 featuring ball throw and javelin throw finals, followed by field event finals and track semifinals next week, culminating in the highly anticipated track finals on March 22.

Saint Lucian athletes delivered an impressive performance at the Crédit Mutuel Swimming Meet in Martinique, treating the competition as a strategic warm-up for the upcoming CARIFTA Games. Held at the Pierre Samot Aquatics Centre in Le Lamentin, the event saw remarkable achievements from swimmers representing three major clubs: Sharks, Sea Jays, and Lightning Aquatics.

Henri-Christian Theobalds emerged as a standout performer, defying expectations with a spectacular showing in the 50m breaststroke. Despite most competitors entering the meet without tapering—a deliberate strategy to prioritize acclimatization over peak performance—Theobalds achieved a qualifying time of 34.09 seconds in the final, a significant improvement from his 34.99-second preliminary swim. This accomplishment secured his position in the boys 13-14 category for the CARIFTA Games, scheduled to take place at the same venue during Easter weekend.

Theobalds is anticipated to be among three Sharks swimmers selected for the official CARIFTA team, with the Saint Lucia Aquatics Federation set to announce final roster decisions later this week. His teammate Caden Calderon also demonstrated strong form, finishing ahead of Theobalds in the 50m breaststroke, placing third in the 100m breaststroke, and securing second in the 200m medley. Zaina Brathwaite further contributed to Sharks’ success by advancing to the women’s 50m breaststroke finals.

Sea Jays club members showcased considerable depth across multiple age groups. Maya Andrew dominated the 12-13 division with gold medals in both the 50m and 100m breaststroke, complemented by silver in the 50m freestyle and bronze in the 50m butterfly. Jayden Xu claimed victory in both the 50m and 100m backstroke events, while Tyler Dantes secured wins in the 12-13 boys’ 50m and 100m backstroke alongside additional podium finishes. Dylan Corcoran and Noah Dorville also delivered notable performances with multiple final appearances.

Lightning Aquatics athletes made their mark with Jayce Daniel capturing gold in the 12-13 boys’ 100m freestyle while qualifying for two additional finals. Teammates Aaron Charles, Liam Felicien, Aniya George, and Tre Theresine each advanced to at least one final, demonstrating the collective strength of Saint Lucian swimming.

According to Sea Jays public relations officer Denise Parks, the competition served primarily as an acclimatization opportunity rather than a peak performance event. ‘The swimmers went in untampered, most of them looking to more or less acclimatise themselves,’ Parks explained. ‘Some who already had CARIFTA times were going in to get a feel for the water, to visualise their swims, and to feel what it is to swim at that venue on a bigger stage.’

Even defending high point winner Sapphire Parks, who did not advance to finals in her events, utilized the meet to familiarize herself with the competition environment, highlighting the strategic approach adopted by the Saint Lucian delegation throughout the event.

The Saint Lucia KFC National Basketball League launched its new season on Saturday, March 7th, delivering an electrifying opening night at the Beausejour Gymnasium marked by dominant performances and a stunning upset.

The evening’s doubleheader commenced with the Courts Jets executing a commanding 77-56 victory over the Morne Gladiators. Jets’ standout player, Ryan Philogene, immediately reasserted his dominance, spearheading the win with an impressive double-double of 28 points and 11 rebounds. He was strongly supported by newcomer Ajani Ferdinand, who contributed 12 points, and Pakel Gumbs, who nearly secured a double-double with 9 points and 12 rebounds. The Jets established control early, leading 21-12 after the first quarter and maintaining a solid 35-24 advantage by halftime. For the Morne Gladiators, the offensive effort was led by Junior Dupre with 16 points, while Joel Desrivieres, Cletuson Leon, and Jazaniah Blanchard each added 10 points.

The night’s main event featured a finals rematch that culminated in a dramatic reversal of fortune. The Bonne Terre Blazers, under the guidance of debut head coach Nye Guard, orchestrated a spectacular fourth-quarter comeback to dethrone the defending champions, Soufriere Kings, with a final score of 70-63. The Kings, despite being shorthanded without key players Sidney Didier and Kimani Charles, initially built a significant lead, closing the first half ahead 38-24. The momentum shifted decisively in the final period, where the Blazers’ defense held the Kings to a mere five points. KFC Player of the Game, Andre Louison, was instrumental in the victory, finishing with a game-high 26 points and 7 assists. Critical support came from Elwin, who nailed a crucial three-pointer in the fourth, and Troy Louison and Orin Thomas, who provided significant all-around contributions. Jayzee Saltibus delivered a Herculean effort in defeat for Soufriere, recording 16 points and a massive 19 rebounds.

The league action continues on Wednesday, March 11th, featuring a matchup between newcomers Fired Up Fitness and East Coast Academy.

The Island Champs secondary school athletics championships exploded into action, heralding a week of intense competition set to culminate on March 22nd at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground. The opening day on Monday, March 9th, saw athletes from 25 schools across the island battle in a series of track and field preliminaries, establishing early benchmarks and setting the stage for a thrilling contest.

The initial track events, conducted on a 300m grass surface, featured the 80m, 100m, 300m, and 400m sprints, alongside the 4x300m and 4x400m relays. The schedule continues with preliminary rounds for longer distances, including the 150m through to the 1500m, on Tuesday, with semifinals scheduled for Wednesday, March 18th. Concurrently, field events commence at the Saint Lucia Sports Academy on Wednesday, March 11th, opening with ball throw, javelin, long jump, and high jump across various divisions.

While defending champions St Joseph’s Convent (SJC) and St Mary’s College (SMC) demonstrated a strong initial showing, they face formidable challenges from rivals including Vieux Fort Comprehensive (VFCSS), Soufriere Comprehensive, the Saint Lucia Sports Academy (SLSA), and Beanefield Comprehensive, ensuring the title race remains wide open.

Notable early performances emerged across all age groups. In the Under-14 girls’ division, SJC’s Jaela St Clair and Skai Sammy dominated their 80m heats with a blistering 10.7 seconds. SLSA’s Brianne Jason commanded the 300m in 45.5 seconds, while VFCSS posted the leading 4x300m relay time.

The boys’ competition was electrified by Soufriere’s Devin Mesmain, who emerged as the frontrunner in both the 80m (9.7s) and 300m (43.2s). He is poised for intense showdowns with Nasri Edwin (VFCSS) and others in the 80m, and must fend off defending champion Evan Sankar (SMC) for the 300m crown.

In intermediate categories, Ianna James set the standard in the U-16 girls’ 100m with a time of 12.5 seconds. The battle for 400m supremacy appears to be between VFCSS and SLSA, with the latter’s Laila Nicholas clocking a leading 1:03.8. The boys’ intermediate 100m finals are shaping up to be a clash between VFCSS’s Renard Bernard (11.0s) and Sir Ira Simmons’ Armni Phillips (11.1s).

The premier Under-18 division lived up to its hype, featuring clashes between established CARIFTA athletes. Beanefield’s Barbara-Marie Maximin edged ahead of Choiseul’s double champion Jady Emmanuel in the 100m, while Leon Hess’s Akaiha Weeks narrowly outperformed SLSA’s Isabella Emilienne in the 400m. The boys’ division saw the Beanefield duo of Kade Francis (10.7s) and Jermario Actille leading the 100m preliminaries, signaling a highly competitive finals week ahead.

In a highly anticipated rematch between last year’s co-champions, Gros Islet emerged as the sole victor in the Sandals/Saint Lucia National Cricket Association Under-19 Boys’ Cricket Tournament final. The northern squad secured their eighth championship title with a convincing five-wicket triumph over Central Castries at Mindoo Philip Park on Sunday.

The decisive match unfolded with Gros Islet’s bowlers demonstrating exceptional discipline, restricting their opponents to 183 all out. Central Castries’ innings featured a notable 45-run contribution from captain Theo Edward, who struck five boundaries and two sixes before being dismissed by Neil Poyotte. The batting lineup’s primary strength came from Aiden Scholar, who anchored the innings with a top-score of 70 runs, though he received limited support from the middle order except for Tyler Venner’s valuable 29-run addition.

Gros Islet’s bowling attack proved instrumental to their success, with Kaleb Charles delivering an impressive performance of 3-26, well-complemented by Poyotte’s 3-43 haul. The collective bowling effort effectively contained Central Castries’ scoring opportunities throughout their innings.

The championship chase was characterized by strategic batting partnerships rather than individual brilliance. Gros Islet successfully reached their target in just 27.3 overs through coordinated team effort. Daniel Lorde led the scoring with 42 runs, while Roystan Fannis (19), Jonathan Daniel (27), and Kanil Nelson (22) all made crucial contributions to secure the victory under the guidance of head coach Alton Crafton.