The ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Championships in Jamaica delivered another proud moment for Saint Lucia on Thursday, March 26. Deandre Isidore claimed bronze in the open boys’ decathlon, marking the nation’s second medal at Champs. His achievement follows Khailan Vitalis’s historic gold for Kingston College in 2022.
Competing for Jamaica College, Isidore tallied an impressive 5,520 points. At 17, if he continues in the event, he could challenge Vitalis’ national junior record of 5,990 over 10 events.
On the opening day of the decathlon, Wednesday, Isidore ran 11.22 seconds for the 100m, cleared 5.82m for long jump, threw the shot 10.20m, went over 1.63m in high jump, and then ran 50.48 seconds for the 400m.
He came back on the second day, Thursday, to post a 15.78-second run in 110m hurdles, threw 22.64m in discus, went 2.92m for pole vault, produced a strong 44.82m javelin throw, and ran 5:19.84 for the 1500m.
Overall, Isidore recorded the top time in the 400m, was second in javelin throw, and third in the 100m. His weakest events were the discus throw and high jump. He outperformed Vitalis in shot put, javelin throw and 1500m. At last year’s CARIFTA Games, Isidore placed fifth in the Under-17 boys’ 400m hurdles.
The event was won by another eastern Caribbean athlete, Jurel Clement of Grenada and Kingston College, with 6,837 points. Jaquan Souden from Happy Grove High School compiled 6696 to take the silver medal from a field of 21 athletes.
Denzel Phillips got four points for Jamaica College in a tough Class 1 discus throw field, with a 55.66m effort. His teammate, Joseph Salmon, set a meet record and the Jamaican junior national record of 67.55m to win gold. Phillips placed fifth, producing the second-longest throw ever by a Saint Lucian Under-20 male, behind only his 56.78m record from February.
