They say behind every champion stands someone who believed in them first. For Jady Emmanuel, Saint Lucia’s double CARIFTA Games sprint gold medalist, that unwavering belief came from Denise Herman, a dedicated coach, educator, and driving force in shaping young athletic talent.
Herman’s coaching journey began over two decades ago when she completed her first athletics coaching course in 2002. Today, she remains a pillar of track and field development, serving as the head of the Choiseul Athletics Club and a physical education teacher at Choiseul Secondary School. Her expertise and leadership were further recognised this year when she was appointed head coach of Saint Lucia’s CARIFTA Games team, guiding the nation’s rising stars at the prestigious Under-20 competition in Trinidad & Tobago.
In an exclusive interview with St Lucia Times, Herman reflected on Emmanuel’s remarkable growth, the keys to sustaining Saint Lucia’s success at the regional level, and the vital role of community support in nurturing future champions. She also shared the passion that fuels her enduring commitment to coaching and inspiring the next generation of athletes.
Q: Denise, Saint Lucia got four medals at the CARIFTA Games. Not our biggest total, but we had some interesting performances beyond the obvious. What’s your assessment?
A: It was a good Games. Some of the expectations we had for medals came through. The number of medals we probably were hoping for, we didn’t get it. We had a couple of fourth places. But we were pleased that some of the athletes achieved personal bests. There were national records, under-18 records, and some records were just within reach, so that was pleasing.
Q: You mention the records. We had a new Under-20 boys’ record for the 4×100, and the Under-17 girls came close to both the 4×1 and 4×4 records… in the Under-20 category. And most of those girls, as well as most of the Under-20 boys are back next year. How significant was that?
A: That was a great achievement in itself. Because when we looked at the Under-17, as you mentioned, those kids have another CARIFTA. They’re 15. One of the girls’ birthdays is in December, so basically she’s 14. So we have 15-year-olds coming so close to an Under-20 record. That is great, and I believe that the fact that some faith was put in relay teams when the association goes back and reflects, they could see this was a good initiative. And we have to start with things like that. We had four relay teams there, and all the relay teams were in the finals. The boys set the record, the girls were so close. So sometimes risk pays off.
Q: What do we need to do to get even more competitive?
A: They should be kept together. And not only the relay teams. Of the 21 athletes who travelled, just one won’t be eligible for CARIFTA next year. Something should be put in place so they get the help they need. For the relay teams, you could say we only had two Saturdays to do any work. The baton passing and little mistakes take off, say, a hundredth of a second. So I’m hoping, and it is my recommendation that the teams stay together and train together at least once a month.
Q: We were missing former silver medallist Naomi London through injury. Denzel Phillips was fourth in the shot put. Naya Jules won a pole vault silver and was fourth in the javelin throw. They are all back in 2026, God willing. What are your expectations for them?
A: If they do come back, they will do well. Naya had a personal best in the pole vault, and she struggled to get there because of the pole. All the poles that the Games provided were new. She was able to use one on one of the training days, but … it was very stiff. We have to put things in place so she can travel with her pole because at school she’s been jumping 3.15 and her pole has the flexibility; what it takes for her to jump.
Denzel had a good last throw, but it was a scratch because he fell out of the sector. So we know that these little things happen, you make the adjustments in training, and I know he has a good coach back in Jamaica. And he will be ready. Naomi was not able to make it this year but she has shown what she can produce. And if those three come into the fold, I know the chances of more medals, more records are possible.
Q: People who follow local athletics would have been confident of Jady’s chances of at least one medal. You were her coach on the national team, but you’ve also been her club and school coach. What’s her progression been like?
A: I could go way back to her primary school days, where she took part in the inter-primary, dominating and medalling. She came into secondary school, becoming Victrix Ludorom a number of times. She represented the country at the NACAC age group championship, where she came fifth overall, out of over 30 athletes. She came third in the 80 metres back then. And she’s transitioned where she could run the 100 and the 200 and she has been doing very well. If she’s run 20 races in the last two years, she’s probably won 19 out of the 20. She’s quiet, but she’s full of confidence. She’ll put everything, every effort, to give her best. And she’s a coachable athlete. She listens… and that is why she’s where she is today.
Q: We saw her family and the wider community come out to support her in their numbers. They were at the airport and celebrated with a motorcade. How big a role have they played?
A: They’ve been quite supportive. An entire community came out to support her. It is overwhelming. If you speak to the parents, both the mom and the dad called me while we were in Trinidad, and showed appreciation for what I have shown to Jady. The mom always comes to her meets;, from primary school, she’s been there.
Q: You’ve been coaching for over two decades now, longer than any of the athletes you were with at CARIFTA. What keeps you going?
A: Wanting to see athletes do well. Because, when you look out there, and you see an athlete, you see a student, you see potential. And then you’ll be, like, is this person getting the help? Can I help that person? I feel I can help that person. So it’s been a while. And maybe my colleagues at school would say that I come to them, I say I think I want to give up, I cannot do it anymore. But then somebody comes along saying, ‘Miss, I want to train, coach’. So then you have to say, ‘Oh boy, I think I’m going to have to delay a bit’. That’s why I’ve been around. Because there’s a lot of talent. Choiseul is a wide area, and every pocket has talent. I have the knowledge, I can get the information. I’m willing to pass it on, so that those children from the south, from Choiseul, from Banse, from Laborie can get the opportunity to represent Saint Lucia on the big stage. I feel we could get an Olympian from these areas. So I’m still holding on.
Congratulations to both of you – continue to stay the course – commitment, determination and hard work ultimately pays off. Godspeed