Saint Lucia replicated its 2023 performance by clinching third place overall as the Windward Islands School Games concluded over the weekend in St Vincent & the Grenadines.
While the team did not claim gold in any of the seven disciplines contested over the eight-day event, they secured second-place finishes in three categories.
Saint Lucia emerged as runners-up in track and field, boys’ basketball, and boys’ volleyball. They also earned third place in girls’ basketball and volleyball but finished at the bottom in netball and football.
Grenada dominated the competition, capturing the overall title with 41 points after victories in girls’ and boys’ basketball, girls’ volleyball, and track and field. Dominica, winners of boys’ volleyball, secured second place with 29 points, six ahead of Saint Lucia. Despite triumphs in girls’ netball and boys’ football, host nation St Vincent & the Grenadines managed only 19 points.
In athletics, Saint Lucia’s girls won the Under-21 4x400m relay in 4:03.68. CARIFTA silver medallist Destinee Cenac won the girls’ high jump, Clowie William the girls’ javelin throw, Shekim McRae the boys’ shot put, and Kyle Gilbert the boys’ javelin throw. Saint Lucia also held on to three silver medals and 11 bronze medals.
Saint Lucia’s male basketballers won 88-82 over Dominica and 113-35 over St Vincent & the Grenadines, the biggest margin of victory in the competition. But the boys were overcome 90-72 by Grenada. Saint Lucia ended with 273 points to their credit, allowing 207.
The boys were competitive in volleyball as well. They beat Grenada 3-2 and St Vincent & the Grenadines 3-1 but lost to Dominica. Saint Lucia had 281 points for, and 268 against.
The girls only beat St Vincent & the Grenadines in volleyball, taking a 3-2 win over the hosts. They fell 3-0 to Dominica and 3-2 to Grenada. The girls managed 275 points, but yielded 283.
The girls’ basketball competition saw Saint Lucia beating SVG 69-30, but losing 85-51 to Dominica and 90-72 to Grenada. The girls tallied 148 points, and gave up 166.
In football, Saint Lucia were edged 2-1 by Dominica, won 3-2 over St Vincent & the Grenadines, and were thrashed 7-2 by Grenada. Dominica also won two games and lost one. But Saint Lucia’s goal difference of -5 (six scored, 11 let in) relegated them to the fourth spot on the four-team table.
Netball results made poor reading, as Saint Lucia lost 21-13 to Dominica, 31-24 to Grenada, and a whopping 49-12 to St Vincent & the Grenadines. The team scored only 49 goals, and allowed 101.
