The Independence Games Track & Field Championships opened in fine style on February 14 at the George Odlum Stadium in Vieux Fort, with two young high jumpers vaulting straight into CARIFTA contention.
Destinee Cenac, the reigning Female Student Athlete of the Year, raised the bar yet again. Already qualified from a 1.65m clearance in Martinique two weeks ago, the Morne Stars standout soared to a new personal best of 1.71m to win her event.
That mark not only surpassed the Saint Lucia Athletics Association’s 1.60m qualifying standard, but also matched the winning height from last year’s CARIFTA Games in Trinidad & Tobago, where she claimed bronze in the Under-17 girls’ high jump.
Joining her in the spotlight was Randall Monroe of the Saint Lucia Sports Academy. Just 15 years old, Monroe delivered a breakthrough performance, clearing 1.90m to secure first place.
His leap comfortably exceeded the 1.83m qualifying mark and set a new personal best, adding his name to Saint Lucia’s proud tradition in high jump, an event that has yielded more CARIFTA medals for the island than any other discipline.
With Cenac and Monroe’s achievements, Saint Lucia now has at least four athletes who have met the qualifying standard for Grenada 2026, where the regional junior festival of athletics will take place over Easter weekend, April 4-6.
Elite’s Albert Reynolds was at the meet, competing in the men’s javelin throw. The 38-year-old, a former Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States record holder and CARIFTA champion, threw a modest 65.31m to top his event, more than 15 metres clear of SLSA’s Jequan Joseph.
In the men’s shot put. Kyle Gilbert of Morne Stars threw 11.82m. Sean Pilgrim of Pacesetters cleared 12.29m with the Under-20 shot. And Elijah Fred of Survivors achieved a best throw of 11.89m with the Under-17 ball.
Gilbert doubled up as discus throw champion, with a best of 36.22m. Eavan Edgar of Abilene was the top Under-17 thrower with a 34.36m mark, whilst Merlik Martin of Nightriders threw 33.58m to take the Under-20 division.
Among the women, Jennica Albert of Morne Stars won the Under-20 shot put with 9.26m, and the women’s discus throw with 25.35m, the latter ahead of Katlynne Charles of Nightriders. Tabitha Louis of Morne Stars (9.47m) was the senior women’s winner, and Autumn Louis (10.27m) got the Under-17 girls’ title.
Clowie William of SLSA won the women’s javelin throw with 31.77m, six metres shy of the qualifying mark. Only four events were held last weekend. The long jump, triple jump and track events will be held on February 28 and March 1 at Soufriere Stadium.
