Another athlete met the Saint Lucia Athletics Association standards for the 2025 CARIFTA Games on Tuesday. A second student-athlete, already qualified for the regional championships, qualified in a second event.
Both performances came on Tuesday at the George Odlum Stadium, as Island Champs got underway with competition in field events.
After struggling early in the season, Syesha Rogers of St Joseph’s Convent cleared a personal-best 5.54m to make the mark for the Under-20 girls’ long jump. She was ninth in the Under-17 division last year in Grenada. Rogers joins Morne Stars Athletics Club teammate Destinee Cenac, who also punched her ticket to Trinidad & Tobago last weekend. Cenac will contest the Under-17 girls’ high jump.
The first local qualifier for the year, however, was Choiseul’s Jady Emmanuel, the female student-athlete of the year for 2024. Emmanuel, an Under-17 100m finalist last season, already booked her flight for that event in February. On Tuesday, the 16-year-old Choiseul Secondary School student added an impressive finish in the long jump, clearing 5.56m to win the Under-18 girls’ event over Rogers.
The first day of seven in this year’s secondary school track and field competition saw 13 events decided. Other long jump winners included Anwar Gill of Saint Mary’s College (6.23m) in Under-18 boys, and the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College duo of Tamika St Pierre (4.33m) and Darvin Forde (6.55m) in 18 and over girls and boys. Barbara Marie Maximin of Beanefield Comprehensive (5.29m) won Under-16 girls. Nyla Joseph from the School Of Innovation & Technology (4.84m) and Delvin Corbin of Vieux Fort Comprehensive (4.85m) took Under-14 titles.
Hansam Cadette was a discus throw standout. The Saint Mary’s College 15-year-old launched the 1.5kg disc 39.41m in the Under-16 division. Double national junior champion and double defending Island Champs gold medallist Jennica Albert of Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary threw a personal-record 24.79m to win girls’ Under-18. Leon Alexander won Under-18 boys for Sir Arthur Lewis Community College with a 30.72m effort. Niomi Anthony from Corinth Secondary tossed 21.61m in the 18 and over class, and Tyler Hubain of Sir Arthur Lewis 31.95m.
Darvin Forde of Sir Arthur Lewis Community College hopped, skipped, and jumped his way to 13.85m to win the open triple jump.
