Tell a friend:
 

26th January 2010
Carifta Silver Medallist Gets Scholarship
Anthony De Beauville

2009 saw at least four of St.Lucia track and field athletes make their way to further their academic and track and field career and skills, joining well over 60 other St.Lucians who have has already tested US soil. Last week another young and inspiring athlete left the island to take up a two year partial scholarship and one hopes that he will not be the last St.Lucian athlete to do so.
It is not very easy to replace someone who over a number of years has made this country proud, but 19-year-old Rick Valcin of La Croix Maingot, a former student of Gros Islet Secondary School and Sir Arthur Lewis Community College believe with hard work he can be the one to replace three times Olympian St.Lucian Dominic Johnson in the Pole Vault. On December 13th 2009 at the SLAA Sports Extravaganza on Jeremie Street Dominic made the announcement that he was retiring form the sport.
Speaking to this reporter at the George Odlum Stadium in Vieux Fort prior to his departure Valcin said, “I recently received a partial scholarship to compete for Cowley College in Arkansas City, Kansas, I was really happy and surprised after hearing I received a scholarship as early as I did, I intend to take full advantage of the once in a life time opportunity by improving not only my pole vaulting, but academically while studying automotive technology and business.”
A bit on the quite side of life Valcin further went on to say, “My goal is to follow in the footsteps of Johnson, by becoming an Olympian and making St Lucia proud in the same manner I did at the Carifta Games in April of 2009.”
 
 

The three times former St.Lucian Olympian Johnson, who is a former Sportsman of the Year, played a major role in securing the scholarship. He was in St Lucia during the Castries Street Vault competition held on National Day by the Castries Market. There, he saw the potential of Valcin who one day hopes to follow in his footsteps.
During the competition Valcin cleared 4.0 metres; the 19 year old had already made a name for himself well before that competition. On the opening day of the 38th edition of the Carifta Games held at the George Odlum Stadium, he went on to capture the silver medal while teammate Shem Edward won the gold to the amazement of the hundreds of St.Lucian supporters. At the SLAA National Individual track and field championships Valcin went on to win the gold medal ahead of compatriot Shem Edward for the first time.
Interestingly he seems to be someone who learns very quickly. Only last year he was introduced to the sport by Cornibert Charlery a teacher of the Gros Islet Secondary School. In 2009 he was under the watchful eyes of coach Andy Behl a Peace Corps volunteer who worked an undisclosed number of hours with a group of raw, aspiring but determined athletes who have made tremendous progress in the Pole Vault event. The majority of them participated in the Pole Vault event at the Castries Market extravaganza in December.

Discuss Story
 
 
Top Stories  
 
 
   
Developed