Saint Lucian athletes set three national records and achieved a Commonwealth Games qualifying standard at track and field events in the United States this past weekend. Michael Joseph, Lauralyn Clifford, Naya Jules and Denzel Phillips were among the top performers.
The Kansas track & field team celebrated its seniors on Saturday, May 2, in Lawrence. At the Rock Chalk Classic at Rock Chalk Park, Joseph won both of his final events at home. First, the senior clocked 45.54 seconds to win the 400m, his third run under 46.46, all this season, clinching qualification to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, in late July. He also led Kansas to a winning time of 3:06.09 in the 4x400m.
In San Antonio, meanwhile, it was the regular-season finale for the University of Texas San Antonio. At E.B. Cushing Stadium, Clifford dominated the Texas A&M Alumni Muster, winning the women’s hammer throw in College Station.
A graduate transfer, Clifford threw 59.77m (196-1) on her final throw, setting a new senior national record and a new UTSA Roadrunners record, as well as earning her the No. 2 mark in the American Conference this season. Clifford downed UTSA’s previous mark of 59.39m (194-10) from Acacia Astwood in 2023.
In the junior division, Naya Jules set a new national Under-20 record in the women’s heptathlon with 4477 points, earning silver at the Region VI Championships in Arkansas City, Kansas. Her performance, which also set a Garden City Community College record, included 16.88 seconds in the 100m hurdles (9th), personal bests of 1.54m in high jump (2nd) and 10.85m in shot put (1st), and 26.78 seconds in the 200m (7th).
On the second day, Jules recorded 4.82m in long jump (8th), 40.53m in javelin (1st), and 2:29.71 in the 800m (3rd). Her 4477 points would have secured her a silver medal at the CARIFTA Games. She also threw 41.88m in the open javelin, placing third and setting another school record, and finished fifth in pole vault with 3.01m.
Denzel Phillips excelled at the Puma East Coast International Showcase in Baltimore, Maryland, earning gold in shot put and silver in discus. The Jamaica College senior improved his all-time Saint Lucia Under-20 records in both events, throwing 17.21m (56-05.50) to win shot put and extending his World Under-20 qualifying mark in discus to 58.39m (191-07), finishing behind Jamaican teammate Joseph Salmon.
OTHER RESULTS
Khailan Vitalis 13.90 (1st, men’s 110 hurdles) Duke Twilight
Cagini Pilgrim 10.65 (4th, men’s 100m) GLVC Championships
Cagini Pilgrim 21.38 (4th, men’s 100m) GLVC Championships
Miguel Charlery 10.62 (13th, men’s 100m) PSAC Championships
Miguel Charlery 21.71 (11th, men’s 200m) PSAC Championships
Ishmael Durand 11.54 (26th, men’s 100m) HBCUAC Championship
Ishmael Durand 23.12 (19th, men’s 200m) HBCUAC Championship
Asa Francis 1:50.05 (10th, men’s 800m) Kehoe Twilight Meet
Rayshawn Harris 2:02.19 (33rd, men’s 800m) Kehoe Twilight Meet
Shamael Durand 10.84m (5th, men’s shot) HBCUAC Championship
Shamael Durand 29.33m (7th, men’s discus) HBCUAC Championship
Shamael Durand 29.50m (12th, men’s javelin) HBCUAC Championship
Naomi London 11.45 (4th, women’s 100m) Texas Invite
Naomi London 23.03 (6th, women’s 200m) Texas Invite
Carleen Lionel 12.52 (22nd, women’s 100m) Atlantic 10 Championships
Jola Felix 12.68 (10th, women’s 100m) Heart of America Championships
Jola Felix 27.12 (17th, women’s 200m) Heart of America Championships
Kereser Augustin 55.88 (8th, women’s 400m) MIAA Outdoor Championships
Jasmine Stiede 2:13.56 (4th, women’s 800m) Rock Chalk Classic
Jasmine Stiede 4:35.50 (6th, women’s 1500m) Rock Chalk Classic
Natalie Albert 54.25m (3rd, women’s hammer) Memphis Tiger Invite
