CARIFTA athletes Destinee Cenac and Barbara-Marie Maximin were the most impressive student-athletes on the third day of Island Champs on Wednesday, March 11. The first champions were crowned in the field events at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground and Saint Lucia Sports Academy, with Cenac and Maximin achieving CARIFTA marks.
Cenac, a high jump bronze medallist at last year’s CARIFTA Games, surpassed the Saint Lucia Athletics Association standard in her event for the third time this season, clearing 1.71m for the second time. The 16-year-old fifth former from St Joseph’s Convent took Under-18 gold with 1.45m, securing second and third place.
Maximin, the top 100m runner in the preliminaries on Monday, set a new career-best mark in the long jump with a 5.61m leap. The Beanefield Comprehensive student improved on her previous CARIFTA qualifying mark of 5.36m from the Independence Games. Her new PB puts her in medal contention at the regional championship. Cenac, with a jump of 5.00m, was second to Maximin.
Also in the Under-18 girls division, Angelle Joseph of Clendon Mason Memorial threw 27.73m to win the javelin throw. Joseph’s main events are middle- and long-distance. In Under-20 javelin throw, meanwhile, Clowie William threw 35.37m for Saint Lucia Sports Academy. Syesha Rogers jumped 5.29m to win the long jump for Sir Arthur Lewis Community College.
The season leader in men’s high jump, Randall Monroe of SLSA, will compete in the Under-16 category next week. On Wednesday, it was the turn of the Under-18s and Under-20s. Sherwin Carter of Micoud Secondary cleared 1.75m for the U18 title, and Anwar Gill of SALCC soared over 1.80m for the U20 crown.
Javelin throw was contested in those two divisions as well. Josan Henry won the U18 title with a 47.24m throw for Vieux Fort Comprehensive. National footballer Jequan Joseph threw 52.53m to take the gold for SLSA.
Other Field Events Winners
U14 Girls Long Jump Phoebe Jolie (SISSS) 4.45m
U14 Girls Ball Throw Kezie Edward (CCSS) 45.07m
U16 Girls Long Jump Lorvelle Sonson (SLSA) 4.90m
U16 Girls Javelin Rayanna Joseph (VFCSS) 27.58m
U14 Boys Ball Throw Javi Preville (CMMSS) 64.93m
U16 Boys Javelin Renard Bernard (VFCSS) 44.10m
(TF)
