Team Saint Lucia returned home from the 2023 CARIFTA Games, last week, to a rousing welcome and were greeted with lots of cheers and heartfelt congratulations for putting on an impressive performance during the customary Easter holiday-weekend meet.
The Ministry of Youth Development and Sports galvanized support from the public to come out and meet the athletes, as they disembarked at the GFL Charles Airport, Vigie, last Wednesday.
Saint Lucia bagged a total of eight medals from the recently concluded 50th Carifta Games in the Bahamas – with a tally of; 1 Gold; 5 Silver and 2 Bronze.
This was described as the island’s biggest haul of medals, ever! These games represent the largest junior track and field competition in the world.
With representation of 28 countries from around the region, these games celebrate strength, resilience, talent and pride.
The CARIFTA games held annually have produced world champions, Olympians and represent the premier athletics event for juniors in this hemisphere.
Not only was this the highest medal tally recorded for Saint Lucia at the CARIFTA Games, but the team also recorded several maiden achievements at the event.
In congratulating the athletes for their impressive performances, Sports Commentator, Terry Finisterre was optimistic about Saint Lucia’s future participation at the games as many of the athletes who partook this time around are eligible to compete next year.
Former Saint Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC) President Fortuna Belrose acknowledged the accomplishments of the island’s young athletes, while noting that amidst the heartache, pain and grief that pervades the air “our young people continue to remind that there is hope and Saint Lucia can do much better. Their performance at this year’s Carifta Games say it all”.
Added Belrose: “We are young, we are able, and we just need opportunity. Both track and field and swim teams spoke loud and clear.”
Sprint sensation Naomi London, from Vieux Fort, delivered Saint Lucia’s historic first medals in the sprints. Naya Jules launched Saint Lucia’s bid to begin domination of regional Pole Vault in the Women’s Division by winning the first ever event for women.
A listing of the top performances is as follows:
Naya Jules – Gold – Pole Vault
Naya Jules – Bronze – Javelin
Naomi London – Silver -100m
Naomi London – Silver – 200m
Joy Edward- Bronze – Shot Put
Jeremiah Felix – Silver – Pole Vault
Denzel Phillips – Silver – Shotput
Denzel Phillip -Silver – Discus
Meanwhile, in CARIFTA Swimming in Curacao, Team 758 young swimmers sent a similar message, winning 7 Golds, 3 Silvers and 1 Bronze.
The dynamic young athlete Antoine Destang stood out when he delivered five times that landed him in the B time zone for the Panama Games 2023. This is a clear indication of the depth of potential there is in that sport.
Destang along with Niaima Hazel who won a bronze medal were podium finishers for Team Saint Lucia.