Saint Lucia’s most recent national record lasted just one week, as Denzel Philips extended his personal-best mark in Under-20 men’s shot put on January 24, at the McKenley/Wint Track & Field Classic 2026. The Jamaica College senior surpassed his previous mark twice at the Calabar High School Sports Complex in Kingston, Jamaica.
Phillips placed fifth in the Boys Class 1 final, throwing the six-kilogramme metal ball 17.17m on his fourth attempt, top ten in the world for 2026. His third was already a new national junior record, going 16.84m, and bettering his 16.33m from the week before. Javontae Smith won with a throw of 18.78m, and Kamari Kennedy went 18.65 for second. Phillips’ coach at Jamaica College, Rajive Ford, is confident that the 19-year-old Saint Lucian can compete at that level.
“We are hopeful that he will be able to hit qualifying distances for both the shot put and the discus throw to compete at the World U-20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon in August of this year,” said Ford, in an exclusive interview with St. Lucia Times. “Those would be 18.30m in the shot put and 56m in the discus.”
Ford is certain that Phillips is trending in the right direction. He acknowledged that transitioning through the age groups can be challenging for male throwers, but insisted to St. Lucia Times that Phillips is poised for success, due to his mentality and renewed sense of self-assurance.
“Going into his last year as a junior, I would say his confidence is the biggest change,” said Ford. “Denzel really started to believe in himself. And it’s showing in the gym and in every rep that he takes in the circle.
“Denzel, since he started throwing, has demonstrated the natural propensity to do well in the throws. At the end of his U17 season, he did a few meets in the U20 category and handled himself very well. That was a clear sign that as long as he is healthy, he will be able to perform at a very high level in the throws, a reality we are witnessing today. In fact, while he is currently doing well in the shot put, I think Denzel is a better discus athlete, and I hope he is able to demonstrate that in the coming weeks.”
Ford is overseeing a fine stable of young throwers, and his Saint Lucian charge is going head-to-head with some of the leading competitors on the planet on a weekly basis. The coach tells St. Lucia Times that, in spite of Phillips holding two national junior records and one senior record, the best is yet to come.
