Turning 19 in March, a Jamaica-based track and field athlete is doing his best to remind Saint Lucians of the field part of the sport, breaking records and setting his sights on glory at the CARIFTA Games and beyond. A former sprinter in his younger days, Denzel Phillips is already one of the best throwers ever from the Helen of the West.
A student at Jamaica College, Phillips broke his first senior national record last December, throwing 48.79m with the two-kilogramme discus. Competing at the Tyser-Mills Classics in Spanish Town, Jamaica, on Saint Lucia’s National Day, December 13, Phillips overhauled the mark of 45.20m set by Ricky Deligny in 1992, competing at Barbados’ National Stadium. It was one of the oldest records in the books, and the second-oldest men’s record.
Amazingly, it was the first time Phillips had ever thrown the 2kg implement. Under-20 male athletes usually throw the 1.75kg discus in competition, but in practice, it’s normal for throwers to use both lighter and heavier weights. As is, the bespectacled Phillips took the performance in stride.
“Well, yes. I did expect the record,” he shared with St. Lucia Times. “Before, it was 45m. Not taking anything away from it, but in training, I constantly throw way past that. I was actually a little disappointed I only came out with 48m.”
Not skipping a beat, he kicked off the calendar year with yet another record, surpassing his previous national junior best mark of 15.89m in Under-20 shot put. At the World Class Development Meet in Kingston’s Ashenheim Stadium, he threw the 6kg metal ball 16.33m to take the top spot last Saturday, on January 17.
Phillips sprang to prominence in 2023, as an Under-17 athlete. He took silver medals in both throws at the CARIFTA Games in The Bahamas, the first Saint Lucian to take a medal in discus throw. He then got dual bronze medals at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago, the first Saint Lucian athlete with multiple medals at CYG.Â
Since then, although he has continued to improve, he is yet to get back on the medal rostrum at the regional and international level. In 2025, he was fourth in both events. This year, his preparation remains the same, but his mentality, he says, is different, as he aims for genuine world-class junior marks.Â
“I don’t want to say that it has changed, because I always try my best,” he explained. “But given that it is a Worlds [Under-20, August 5-9 in Oregon, United States] and also my last Under-20 year, I want to make sure I get it perfect, and make sure every training session counts.”
With his current form, Phillips is feeling good ahead of the regional and international season. His sights are firmly set on the CARIFTA Games in Grenada, which will be held in early April. Success there will get many more eyes on him, and will ensure that he is more heavily recruited.
“I’m feeling good. Each year, I try to do a little better than the last, and hopefully this year is the year where I bring in a couple of medals,” said Phillips. “I’m hoping I can get at least 58 in discus and 18 in shot. I have started looking at universities, but they are still kind of new, and I want it to be a surprise when I do sign.”
A silver medallist in Class 2 at the 2023 ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Championships, Phillips will also be keen to add to the trophy cabinet as Jamaica College make another push for the boys’ title. A medal or two and a record or two ahead of CARIFTA would be more feathers in his cap, and another boost for Saint Lucian field events.
