Eight Champions Crowned at Island Champs

Eight titles were decided on the penultimate day of Island Champs 2025, as the nation’s top student-athletes fought for the glory of their schools. 

Wednesday, the sixth day of this year’s secondary school athletics competition, continued with finals and semifinals at the Soufrière Stadium, where the meet will conclude this Sunday.

In the shadow of the world-famous Pitons, the title rounds of the 1000m, 1200m, and 1500m were contested, with semifinals in the sprint events. 

Kayleigh Landers of Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School won the Under-14 girls’ 1000 in 3:26.84, holding off Faith Joseph of Saint Lucia Sports Academy, and a hobbled but spirited Aniya George of St Joseph’s Convent. St Mary’s College runner Jaelen McDonald took the boys’ Under-14 1200m in 4:01.81, with Micoud Secondary School’s Kalu Mathurin taking silver.

Chaz Alexander of Soufrière Comprehensive Secondary School ran 4:43.10, a  little over five seconds faster than Micoud’s Michael Elliote in second, with Soufrière’s Jermal Cadette third in the Under-16 boys’ 1500m. Maiya Landers led from the start of the Under-16 girls, running 5:15.80 for gold. Jayla Sayers of Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School gave good chase early, with Shanel Elien of SLSA third.

The Under-18 1500’s featured fine battles between seasoned club campaigners. The boys’ race was an SMC quinella, Omarion Edwin (4:21.33) beating CARIFTA teammate Alex Devaux (4:29.76) to the top spot. Among the girls, the medallists were separated by a little over three seconds. Abigail Herman of SJC won in 5:42.40, out-leaning Seraphina William (5:42.44) of Beanefield Comprehensive Secondary School, both just ahead of  Layla Jn Baptiste (5:45.74) of Micoud Secondary School.

The 18-plus division was won by Benique Mann of Anse Ger Secondary School (4:25.06) for the boys over the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College pair of Kerdim Agdomar and Kamal Leopald, and McKayla Olivier (6:03.09) of SALCC winning over Tesha Skelly (8:22.72) of Grande Riviere Secondary School.

A long, hot day of semifinals in the sprints gave a clear indication of the favourites going into Sunday afternoon’s action. 

Mylee Chaddie ran 10.69 with a 2.2 metres per second wind to win Heat 2 of the Under-14 girls’ 80m, whilst Nyla Joseph of AGSS ran 10.71 and Lovelle Sonson of SLSA 10.72 to round out the top three contenders. Ethan Williams of VFCSS clocked 9.63 with no wind indicator to win Heat 1, whilst Liam Sonny of Castries Comprehensive Secondary School ran an impressive 9.98 with a 1.7 wind.

As expected, 2024 CARIFTA teammates and 2025 qualifiers Jady Emmanuel and Syesha Rogers eased into the final of the Under-18 girls’ 100m. Emmanuel shut down early and crossed the line in 12.08 seconds to win Heat 1. Rogers was way out ahead of the field in Heat 2, winning in 12.26 seconds. They had winds of 2.7 and 4.0, respectively.

Micaiah Sobers of SMC threw down a gauntlet for teammate Terrick Plummer. Plummer, 16, is qualified for next month’s CARIFTA Games in the Under-17 division. But Sobers, the national Under-20 champion, ran 10.90 in the semis to (wind 4.1) to 11.03 (wind 2.5) for Plummer. Sunday’s showdown should be a thriller.

Destinee Cenac of SJC ran 12.51 with a 4.0 wind to win Heat 1 in the Under-16 girls. Barbara Marie Maximin of Beanefield ran 12.64 (wind 2.4) to win Heat 2. Renard Bernard of VFCSS clocked 11.23 (wind 2.5) to win Heat 2, but Jermario Actille of Beanefield was hot on his tail, with 11.33 (wind 2.8) to take Heat 1.

In the 400m series, CARIFTA Under-17 qualifier Gabrielle Facey of SJC ran 59.55 to take the top spot over 2024 CARIFTA team member Isabella Emilienne of SLSA in 59.75 seconds. Facey is only 15 years old this year.

Leonel Mathurin of VFCSS, 14 years old, ran 54.71 to leave Naquan Antoine of AGSS second going into Sunday’s finale. Dermille Theodore of Choiseul ran 52.95, and Deslie Nelson of SCSS 53.19 in the Under-18 category. 

Among the 18-plus boys, SCSS 18-year-old Joaqwan Alexander continued his strong season. A CARIFTA qualifier and national junior champion on the weekend, he ran 51.27 seconds on Tuesday to hold off a hard-charging Immanuel Francis of SALCC. Francis, 20, ran 51.30 seconds to set up a mouthwatering climax.

Sunday’s action will decide the boys’ and girls’ champions for 2025, with SMC and SJC leading going into the track finals.  Schools like VFCSS, SLSA, and Micoud will be keen to get to the top of the table, however. Individual titles will be on the line in races from 80m to 5000m, as well as the ever-exciting relays in all divisions. 

Other top qualifiers:

Girls 150m U14

Lovelle Sonson, SLSA 20.29 (2.1)

Mylee Chaddie, MSS 20.37 (2.5)

Nyla Joseph, AGSS 20.43 (1.9)

Girls 300m U14

Lovelle Sonson, SLSA 45.43

Akima Mathurin, SCSS 45.95

CathyAnn Lucien, SLSA 47.20

Girls 200m U16

Shaimaelle Durand, VFCSS 26.43 (3.8)

Destinee Cenac, SJC 26.56 (3.6)

Isabella Emilienne, SLSA 26.66 (1.7)

Girls 200m U18

Casyah Paul, BCSS 25.32 (1.7)

Nyella Cox, LHCSS 26.46 (1.7)

Syesha Rogers, SJC 26.48 (2.2)

Boys 150m U14

Ethan William, VFCSS 18.05 (2.1)

Keanu Jeffrey, SMC 19.16 (1.5)

Tajiri Isidore, LHCSS 19.54 (2.0)

Boys 300m U14

Trevohn Edwards, B’neau 42.78

Evan Gilbert, SLSA 42.98

Joel Sonson, Micoud 44.21

Boys 200m U16 

Renard Bernard, VFCSS 23.03 (2.6)

Jermario Actille, BCSS 23.23 (2.5)

Joshua Matthew, SMC 23.77 (1.1)

Boys 200m U18

Terrick Plummer, SMC 22.52 (1.9)

Nathaniel Joseph, SLSA 22.91 (2.0)

Micaiah Sobers, SMC 22.91 (2.0)