标签： Saint Lucia

In a stunning reversal of fortunes, Hummingbird House clinched the overall title at the Camille Henry Memorial School Track and Field Championship, held January 23rd at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground. Demonstrating remarkable resilience after a last-place finish in the previous year, the team amassed 396 points—a massive 150-point improvement—to dethrone the defending champions, Flamingo House. The final standings saw Zenaida secure second place with 374 points, followed by Flamingo in third with 354, and Eagle House finishing fourth with 320 points.

The championship was further illuminated by the extraordinary performances of several young athletes. Daveril Albert secured the Victror Ludorum title in the Under-13 boys’ category for the second consecutive year, defending his titles in both the 80m (10.6 seconds) and 150m (19.9 seconds) events. In a seamless transition to a higher division, Kadia Joseph, the reigning Under-11 champion, dominated the Under-13 girls’ category by sweeping the 80m (11.1s), 150m (20.6s), and 300m (48.6s) races. Last year’s winner in this division, Alexia Giddings of Eagle House, also delivered a strong performance, earning two gold medals and a bronze.

Other standout competitors included Jaiden Hunte, who emerged as the top Under-11 boy with wins in the 80m (11.4s) and 150m (22.1s). Maddison Lee was a revelation in the Under-11 girls’ category, dominating the 150m (24.9s) and 300m (59.4s) events. Among the youngest competitors, Kheyon Aroudel (Under-9 boys’ 150m, 24.4s) and Emery Minville (Under-9 girls’ 60m, 10.6s and 150m, 28.1s) claimed victories.

Principal Moarvelle Modeste Lubin attributed the heightened excitement and participation to the inspirational success of World Indoor Champion and Olympic gold medallist Julien Alfred, a Saint Lucian hero. She noted that Alfred’s achievements have fundamentally shifted perceptions about sports on the island. ‘Persons before didn’t see the need for sports… But Julien Alfred proved us wrong,’ Modeste-Lubin stated, highlighting that students now see a tangible path to global achievement. This new ethos has galvanized the entire school community, with parents and teachers volunteering their time on weekends and after school to prepare the athletes. The school’s top competitors will now set their sights on the upcoming District 2 and Inter-District Track and Field Championships, all while balancing preparations for their third-term exit exams.

The highly anticipated Sandals/Saint Lucia National Cricket Association Under-19 Tournament commenced with spectacular energy at Mindoo Philip Park on January 25th. This competitive event brings together eight district squads across four designated venues, promising weeks of exceptional 50-over cricket displays that highlight emerging talent and regional pride.

The inaugural match featured a compelling day/night confrontation between South Castries and Central Castries—the latter sharing honors as 2025 tournament champions—following an elaborate opening ceremony that established the championship’s elevated standards.

Adverse weather conditions necessitated a match reduction to 35 overs per side. South Castries, upon winning the toss, strategically elected to field first. Despite initial challenges with excessive extras, their bowling unit effectively contained Central Castries’ batting lineup, triggering a dramatic collapse.

Tyler Venner emerged as the sole batsman demonstrating resilience for Central Castries, delivering an impressive 49-run performance featuring five boundaries and one six, narrowly missing a deserved half-century. The team ultimately posted 118 all out, with 25 runs attributed to extras. Nathaniel Joseph spearheaded South’s bowling attack with an exceptional four-wicket haul at the cost of 29 runs.

Facing a modest target, Central Castries mounted an extraordinary bowling response that dismantled South Castries for a mere 65 runs. The victory was engineered through masterful spin bowling, with last season’s MVP Theo Edward redeeming his batting performance by capturing four wickets for 16 runs. He partnered effectively with leg-spinner Aiden Scholar, who achieved a stunning economy rate of three wickets for six runs across seven overs. Notably, 32 of South’s runs came from extras, highlighting their batting difficulties.

This emphatic victory immediately positions Central Castries at the tournament’s summit as the competition progresses through its preliminary stages.

The Saint Lucia Athletics Association (SLAA) has celebrated exceptional athletic achievements and administrative dedication during its prestigious annual awards ceremony held January 24 at Daren Sammy Cricket Ground. Under the theme “A Legacy of Performance, A Future of Possibilities,” the federation recognized outstanding contributors across multiple categories.

World Athletics bronze medalist Julien Alfred and quarter-miler Marvric Pamphile received the coveted Athletes of the Year honors for 2025. The ceremony also highlighted emerging talent, with double CARIFTA sprint champion Jady Emmanuel claiming Female Junior Athlete of the Year and record-breaking thrower Denzel Phillips securing Male Junior Athlete of the Year. Juvenile athletes Avery Maryat and Hadassah Jules were additionally recognized for their exceptional performances throughout the past competitive season.

Coaching excellence was prominently featured as Denise Herman of Choiseul Athletics earned Coach of the Year distinction. Finley Louis from Abilene Wildcats received a special Coaching Dedication Award honoring two decades of continuous service to athletic development. Among technical officials, young volunteer Noya Alexander was acknowledged as the year’s top contributor.

Former national Sportswoman of the Year Makeba Alcide received Administrator of the Year honors, while Choiseul Athletics dominated the event by securing three major awards. The gathering attracted significant political and institutional presence, including Minister for Youth Development, Sports, and Digital Transformation Kenson Casimir, alongside representatives from the Saint Lucia Olympic Committee and National Lotteries Authority.

Highlighting the inspirational power of athletic achievement, corporate leader and former beauty queen Louise Victor-Frederick delivered a poignant address reflecting on her own athletic background and emphasizing how athletes like Alfred inspire beyond sports arenas. Media partner Vybe Radio received recognition for their ongoing coverage and promotion of athletic accomplishments.

In a vibrant display of youthful athleticism, two primary schools from Castries successfully launched their second-term sports activities with a collaborative track and field event at Mindoo Phillip Park on Thursday, January 22. The Gordon and Walcott Memorial Methodist School (GWMMS) partnered with Morne Du Don Government Primary School (MDDGPS) to orchestrate a dynamic competition that highlighted emerging sports talent and celebrated student achievement.

The event featured intense house competitions at both institutions. At GWMMS, Williams House emerged victorious in a tightly contested battle, amassing 417 points to narrowly defeat George House by a margin of 29 points. Meanwhile, at MDDGPS, Hibiscus House claimed bragging rights with 362 points, followed by Flamboyant (321), Rose (313), and Marguerite (283) in the final standings.

Exceptional individual performances defined the competition. Kadyn Louis of Williams House dominated the Under-9 category for GWMMS, securing gold in both the 150m (26.0 seconds) and 60m (10.6 seconds) events. The Under-11 division witnessed Kitai Noel from George House achieving a remarkable double victory in the 300m (55.6 seconds) and 600m (2:18.2 minutes). Rohanus Alexander, also representing George House, excelled in the Under-13 boys category with winning times of 52.9 seconds in the 300m and 2:09.7 minutes in the 600m.

Female athletes delivered equally impressive performances. Kissana Paul of Williams House topped the Under-9 podium with victories in the 60m (10.2 seconds) and 150m (26.4 seconds). Her teammate Laila Clifton achieved an extraordinary triple victory in the Under-11 girls category, winning the 80m (13.0 seconds), 150m (25.3 seconds), and 300m (1:04.9 minutes). Oriana Simon from George House demonstrated her sprinting prowess with wins in the Under-13 80m (12.2 seconds) and 150m (23.5 seconds).

MDDGPS athletes showcased their talents with several standout achievements. Chad Henry of Flamboyant House swept the Under-9 boys events with victories in the 60m (10.3 seconds) and 150m (26.7 seconds). Travonte St Juste from Hibiscus House claimed the Under-11 crown through wins in the 80m (12.2 seconds) and 150m (23.8 seconds), complemented by a second-place finish in the 600m (2:23.0 minutes). Lyndon Callendar of Flamboyant House delivered an exceptional four-medal performance in the Under-13 category, including gold in the 600m (2:14.5 minutes) and 1200m (4:56.3 minutes).

The girls’ competitions at MDDGPS featured remarkable achievements from Rose House athletes. Kate Clarke secured the Under-9 title with victories in the 60m (10.6 seconds) and 150m (27.1 seconds). Shian Benjamin earned the Under-11 victrix ludorum honor through wins in the 300m (1:05.0 minutes) and 600m (2:35.9 minutes). Tennisa Polius of Marguerite House demonstrated exceptional endurance with gold medals in the Under-13 600m (2:19.4 minutes) and 1000m (4:16.6 minutes).

The event held special significance for GWMMS, which had been unable to host a track meet in 2025 due to facility unavailability. Physical education teacher Tori Hippolyte expressed profound satisfaction at seeing students return to competition, noting that last year’s cancellation had been particularly disappointing for students who had trained extensively.

Hippolyte emphasized the broader social importance of school sports programs: “I think sports is a really good thing for the athletes and the young children nowadays. If we look at society and what’s going on around us, children barely have anything to distract them, to get them engaged in a good activity, a good after-school programme. Having our sports meet here motivates them and gives them something they can be proud about. They can say, ‘I may not get 90 percent in math and 100 percent in English like the others, but I got a gold medal, and I am doing well in sports.’”

The successful joint meet not only showcased athletic excellence but also reinforced the vital role of sports in holistic education and youth development within the Castries community.

A groundbreaking corporate sponsorship initiative in the mid-1980s fundamentally transformed cricket development across the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), creating a pipeline for world-class talent that would shape West Indies cricket for decades. The program emerged from a critical discovery in 1985 when the OECS Sports Desk learned that Grenada’s secondary school cricket competition had been suspended due to funding shortages within the Ministry of Education.

This alarming situation prompted an investigation into whether similar gaps existed across member states. The solution emerged through strategic engagement with United Insurance, which maintained regional offices throughout the OECS. Company executive Tommy Pearce, himself a former Wanderers Cricket Club player with deep cricket connections through his father’s West Indies Cricket Board service, recognized the program’s potential.

The resulting sponsorship package provided each member state’s Ministry of Sport with XCD10,000 to establish structured secondary school competitions. The funding mechanism operated through United Insurance’s local offices, with ministries required to submit detailed competition reports and ensure sponsor recognition in all media communications.

The program’s impact proved extraordinary, producing numerous Test players including Dominica’s Shane Shillingford, Grenada’s Junior Murray, Montserrat’s Lionel Baker, Saint Lucia’s Daren Sammy, and St. Vincent’s Sunil Ambris. Beyond international stars, the initiative developed hundreds of first-class players across Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The OECS Sports Desk complemented this with specialized development programs including the region’s first commentary workshop hosted by Tony Cozier and Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira, wicketkeeping clinics by Michael Finley and Jackie Hendricks that produced Ridley Jacobs and Junior Murray, and fast bowling sessions led by Andy Roberts and Colin Croft.

Additional support came from Barclays Bank’s four-year sponsorship of Windwards First Class competitions and continued backing from United/Massy Insurance. This comprehensive ecosystem demonstrates how strategic corporate partnerships can overcome governmental funding limitations to create sustainable sports development programs with lasting impact.