Celebrations erupted on Sunday, March 22, as St Joseph’s Convent (SJC) and Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School (VFCSS) claimed top honours at the Island Champs track finals. The blue-and-white of SJC stormed to a third consecutive girls’ crown, while the black-and-gold of VFCSS reclaimed the boys’ title they last held in 2024.
The Daren Sammy Cricket Ground buzzed with electricity as Saint Lucia’s top school athletes chased personal glory and crucial points after six days of field finals and track preliminaries.
SJC amassed a mammoth 281 points to secure their three-peat. VFCSS followed with 205, Saint Lucia Sports Academy (SLSA) placed third on 179, Micoud Secondary tallied 109, and Beanefield Comprehensive rounded out the top five with 98.
On the boys’ side, VFCSS surged to 260 points, dethroning defending champions St Mary’s College by a 54-point margin. SLSA edged Micoud Secondary 139 to 137 for third, with Leon Hess Comprehensive close behind on 132.
SJC secured 16 medals on the final day, seven of them in the Under-18 division. Destinee Cenac, the high jump champion, ran 12.4 seconds and 25.6 seconds to win both the 100m and 200m against Barbara-Marie Maximin of Beanefield, then led SJC to victory in the 4x100m and 4x400m. Ackaiha Weekes claimed gold in both the 400m and 800m for LHCSS.
Mylee Chaddie was a double champion in the Under-16 division, winning the 100m in 12.5 seconds and the 200m in 26.1 seconds for Micoud. VFCSS lost Shaimaelle Durand to injury in her opening event of the day, the 200m. Aria Andrew of SLSA won the 400m and 800m, then helped SLSA to win in both relays.
Among Under-14 girls, Danielle Alphonse won the 80m in 10.6 and the 150m in 20.0 for VFCSS ahead of Skai Sammy in both races. Sammy then led SJC to victory in the 4x100m, but VFCSS dominated the 4x300m. Aminta Didier of Soufriere Secondary won the 300m, and Brianne Jason of SLSA took the 600m.
VFCSS collected most of their 11 medals in the Under-14 boys’ class. Nasri Edwin, high jump champion and shot put silver medallist, sped to victory in the 80m (9.6 seconds) and 150m (18.3 seconds), beating Kerfann Alexander of Micoud twice. Evan Sankar of SMC repeated as 300m champion and added the 600m title. VFCSS took gold in 4x100m and 4x300m.
Randall Monroe of SLSA won the Under-16 200m in 23.0 seconds, and the 400m in 52.2 seconds, for his third and fourth medals. He previously won the high jump and long jump. 200m silver medallist Renard Bernard won the 100m for VFCSS. Kyemani Louisy took the 800m for SCSS. Choiseul captured the 4x100m, and SLSA the 4x400m.
In Under-18 boys’ sprints, Curtis Auguste (Anse Ger TVET Institute) and Jermario Actille split gold and silver in both the 100m and 200m. Elijah Isidore (VFCSS) won the 400m over Dermille Theodore (Choiseul), but Theodore edged Sheldon Willie (SLSA) in a close 800m. VFCSS won the 4x100m, but Auguste led Anse Ger to victory in the 4x400m relay.
(TF)
