By Reginald Andrew
Saint Lucia’s young athletes made their country proud at the recently concluded CARIFTA games, winning coveted prizes in track and field and swimming.
Track star Jady Emmanuel clinched two gold medals at the 52nd edition of the Games, held from April 19 to 21 in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T).
Jady surged to victory in the Girls Under 17 – 100-metre and 200-metre events, becoming the first Saint Lucian athlete to medal in the sprints at this prestigious annual junior regional track and field meet.
Sapphire Parks dominated the pools at the CARIFTA Aquatic Championships in the Girl’s 11 to 12 age category, seizing four gold medals.
These remarkable achievements cement Saint Lucia’s status as an emerging powerhouse in athletics and swimming.
Emmanuel’s triumph has instilled immense pride and joy across the nation. Celebrated by various public and private sector figures, including Prime Minister Philip J Pierre, Sports Minister Kenson Casimir, Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet, and numerous supporters, the Saint Lucia Athletics Association (SLAA) stands firmly behind the ongoing development and support of the country’s athletes.
SLAA President Dora Henry asserted that the meet showcased exceptional performances, particularly from 15-year-old Jady Emmanuel, who secured gold medals with impressive personal bests of 11.50 seconds in the 100m and 23.47 seconds in the 200m sprints.
“Her dominance not only earned her accolades but significantly boosted Saint Lucia’s overall medal count,” Henry stated in a briefing to Voice Sports after the CARIFTA Games.
Henry also emphasized that Emmanuel’s success was complemented by other proficient performances within the team. Naya Jules captured a silver medal in the Girls U20 Pole Vault by clearing 3.00 meters, while Destinee Cenac excelled in the U17 Girls High Jump, securing third place with a clearance of 1.68 meters.
“These performances underscore the nation’s growing prowess in track and field events,” Henry noted.
Henry reinforced: “These recent achievements serve as a powerful morale booster for local athletes. Witnessing their peers excel at a regional level ignites a sense of potential and inspiration among aspiring talents. These results validate the effectiveness of our training programmes and highlight Saint Lucia’s capacity to nurture elite athletes.”
She added that the SLAA has defined both short-term and long-term goals to further elevate athletics in Saint Lucia.
In this context, Henry stated: “Our immediate goal is to enhance grassroots initiatives, expand developmental competitions, and improve coaching education to ensure athletes receive top-tier training.
“Long-term goals include advocating for upgraded facilities, increasing investment in athlete support systems, and forging partnerships with international bodies to expose athletes to higher levels of competition. These strategic initiatives are designed to build on the current momentum and establish Saint Lucia as a formidable force in both regional and international athletics.”
At the recent media launch of the Bank of Saint Lucia (BOSL) National Age Group Championship Games, in partnership with the SLAA, the focus was explicitly on developing talent among youngsters aged seven to 15 years.
Lyndon Arnold, BOSL’s Deputy Managing Director of Operations, succinctly conveyed that a “quiet storm” is decisively transforming Saint Lucia’s athletic landscape. He stated that BOSL’s collaboration with the SLAA represents a strategic commitment to leveraging sports for national development.
“These championships are not just events; they are critical platforms for identifying, nurturing, and elevating talent. They inspire the next generation to dream big, strive for excellence, and represent our nation on both regional and global stages,” Arnold declared.
Commenting on Saint Lucia’s exploits at the CARIFTA Games, Prime Minister Philip J Pierre stated that the government will soon disclose plans to further nurture Emmanuel’s talents.
“It shows that Saint Lucian youth are going places …so the government will contact her (Emmanuel), her handlers, and parents to see what we can do for her and how we can advance her. It’s a path to glory,” PM Pierre told reporters this week.
Minister for Youth Development and Sports, Kenson Casimir, expressed satisfaction with Saint Lucia’s outcome at the event.
“We are very proud as a ministry … (along with) the Athletics Association and the Olympics Committee are equally proud of her overall performance,” he stated.
The Sports Minister added that he had a very insightful and passionate interaction with Jady during the Carifta games, in T&T and is quite impressed with her candor and humility. He likened Jady to “another Julien Alfred,” referring to the “mentality, heart, and soul of the individual and someone humble.”
Following the recent Island Championships and in anticipation of the CARIFTA Games, Sports Minister Casimir emphasized the importance of involving Alumni Associations in the comprehensive development of the nation’s young athletes. He also reiterated his vision of establishing ‘Sports Alumni’ groups throughout the island, stating, “This initiative is essential for enhancing the Island Championships. We want schools to hold their inter-house competitions on weekends.”
He highlighted the potential impact of a combined SMC and SJC athletic meet, given significant support from past students and alumni of these institutions.
“This is an avenue we must explore for next year to enhance our Sports Calendar and elevate athletics in Saint Lucia,” he stated.
Furthermore, he firmly endorses the government’s initiative to infuse additional funds into the island’s sports programmes to benefit athletes and sports associations.
The minister proudly announced that the two champions, St Mary’s College (SMC) and St Joseph’s Convent (SJC), each received $20,000 to enhance their respective sports programs.
“We have witnessed substantial growth in this competition each year, and the atmosphere at the Soufriere Mini Stadium was outstanding,” asserted Casimir. He acknowledged that the annual meet has “outgrown its capacity” at the current venue, presenting a significant challenge that organizers must proactively address.
He emphasised that the focus on incorporating Alumni associations into school sports events aims to establish a comprehensive year-round calendar for sports development.
“Sports development is overly focused on schools. The Ministry of Education’s mandate is to develop students’ minds, while the Ministry of Sports is responsible for nurturing both mind and body, ensuring we cultivate well-rounded individuals,” he asserted.
He added, “Alumni associations are vital, fostering community engagement to access the best coaches, administrators, and financial support, driving forward a holistic year-round program for our athletes.”
Casimir concluded that these associations would play a pivotal role in analyzing and enhancing the strength, stamina, and nutrition of the athletes to ensure their overall development.
The Sports Minister adds that these people would be responsible “to develop that athlete ahead of Island Champs…and if we do this in every secondary school, I can guarantee that in the next 10 to 15 years we will have at least four more Julien Alfred’s.”
Looking ahead, Casimir stated that relocating to a new venue or expanding the seating capacity at the Soufriere Mini Stadium is crucial to accommodating the numerous patrons who could not enter due to capacity constraints.
While he noted challenges with corporate sponsorship, particularly regarding the major sponsor, 1st National Bank, which faced industrial disputes at the time, other sponsors, including CPJ with its Pine Hill and Haliborange products and the National Lottery Authority (NLA), provided vital support for the athletes.
Minister Casimir expressed satisfaction that most athletes had proper gear, including track shoes. “We have made significant strides in providing sports equipment and gear. The athletes were well-prepared, exhibiting uniformity that distinguished their schools—a testament to the progress we have made over the past three years,” he noted.
He welcomed PM Pierre’s announcement of an additional $1.5 million for acquiring sports gear and equipment, affirming the commitment to distribute these resources effectively to schools to ensure ongoing development.
However, despite the successes, there were pressing concerns regarding the stamina levels of athletes at the Island Champs event.
Observations from the meet revealed several young competitors collapsing after their races. The extreme heat and high temperatures of the artificial turf underscore the need for increased flexibility and adequate time for athletes to prepare for their events.
On the issue of stamina, Casimir firmly disagrees with the notion that athletes are over-participating in events.
Furthermore, he asserted: “If Saint Lucians decide to take an active role, and not just sit on the sidelines and criticize… (they can) be part of an organisation in the community, gravitate towards the school, identify some talent and find out how to nurture that talent.”
Over the Easter weekend Team Saint Lucia delivered an impressive performance at the 38th CARIFTA Aquatics Championships held in T&T, solidifying the island’s rising stature in regional swimming.
With a 10-member team, Saint Lucia earned a total of 13 medals—4 Gold, 3 Silver, 5 Bronze, and 1 relay.
A statement from the St Lucia Aquatics Federation (SLAF) affirmed, “The team of ten athletes showcased exceptional skill, determination, and resilience while achieving numerous personal bests and finals appearances.”
Medal Highlights: 11–12 Girls:
Sapphire Parks was a standout, claiming an incredible eight medals across various events:
– Gold: 100 Backstroke, 400 Individual Medley, 200 Butterfly, 200 Backstroke
– Silver: 100 Butterfly, 200 Individual Medley
– Bronze: 200 Freestyle, 200 Breaststroke.
With a total of 65 points, Sapphire rightfully earned the title of 11–12 Girls Age Group Champion, showcasing her remarkable consistency and versatility throughout the championship.
15–17 Boys: Antoine Destang demonstrated remarkable competitive excellence, securing:
– Silver: 100 Butterfly
– Bronze:100 Freestyle
– Bronze: 200 Freestyle Relay
Tristan Dorville impressed with podium finishes in both individual and relay events, earning:
– Bronze: 50 Butterfly, 50 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle Relay
Karic Charles and Ethan Hazell also played essential roles in the team’s success, contributing to the bronze medal in the 200 Freestyle Relay. This marks the first time Saint Lucia has secured a medal in the 200 Freestyle Relay at the CARIFTA Championships—an important milestone for the national team.
Finalists & Personal Bests:
13–14 Boys: Noah Dorville, Aaron Charles, and Jayden Xu recorded multiple personal bests, with Jayden advancing to three individual finals in all backstroke events—50, 100, and 200.
15–17 Girls: Fayth Lubrun achieved personal bests in all events, while Fayth Jeffrey reached two finals, demonstrating notable personal improvements.
The SLAF release highlights, “The 2025 CARIFTA campaign underscores the depth, discipline, and burgeoning potential of Saint Lucian swimmers. This performance not only showcases individual achievements but also signifies significant progress for Saint Lucia’s aquatic programme, culminating in a historic team relay medal on the regional stage.”
