Saint Lucia now has three more qualifiers for next month’s CARIFTA Games, following the weekend’s National Junior Track and Field Championships. The two-day track segment of the meet was held at the Soufriere Stadium.
Jady Emmanuel reinforced her credentials with a win in the Under-17 girls’ 100m. Already qualified in that event, she lowered her personal best to 11.66 seconds. The Choiseul Secondary School and Choiseul Athletics speedster has also made the Saint Lucia Athletics Association’s mark for the Under-17 long jump.
Gabrielle Facey of Survivors clocked 58.25 seconds to win the Under-17 girls’ 400m, against a standard of 58.40 seconds. Destinee Cenac of Morne Stars is the other U17 girl to have turned in a qualifying performance, twice going 1.60m in high jump.
Facey’s teammate, Terrick Plummer clocked 10.87 seconds, well under the ask of 10.99, in the Under-17 boys’ 100m. Also qualified among the U17 boys are Ricardo Mann for the 100m and DeAndre Isidore in 400m hurdles, both based in Jamaica.
Meanwhile, Joaqwan Alexander stopped the clock at 48.68 seconds in the Under-20 boys’ 400m. The Soufriere Comprehensive Secondary School quarter-miler, just 18, dipped two-hundredths of a second below the standard. Also in the U20 boys, Jamaica-based Denzel Phillips, a double medallist in 2023, will contest the shot put and discus throw. He has set national junior records in both events and is a serious medal threat.
The senior girls are expected to include USA-based Naomi London and Naya Jules, alongside long jump qualifier Syesha Rogers of Morne Stars. London was a double sprint medallist two years ago in the Under-17 division. The University of Texas athlete has competed just twice since the beginning of 2024. Jules, the two-time CARIFTA champion and record holder for women’s pole vault, and a 2023 U17 javelin throw medallist, is likely to go for her third straight gold medal in the pole vault.
Following the weekend events, the SLAA issued a statement, which read in part: “The SLAA commended all competitors for their dedication and passion, reaffirming its commitment to developing young athletes and providing opportunities for success on regional and international stages.”
A number of athletes will remain hopeful of making the team for the Games, which will be held over the Easter weekend in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago. Local runners will be competing for their schools at the Island Champs qualifiers and finals this week.
