06th March 2010
A championship with a difference

It was a Championship with a difference as the St. Lucia Athletics Association staged one of its major events dubbed “Training session for 2010” to coincide with St. Lucia’s 31st Independence Celebrations that were held at the make shift medical facility located at the George Odlum Stadium in Vieux – Fort. Interestingly the GOS remains as the only stadium in the world to house a Hospital.
Under hot and humid conditions and like in previous years a number of secondary schools, clubs and individuals participated, but this time around without the typical fanfare for an event of that nature. A total of 44 events were carded on the programme which started off with the 100 metres races in all divisions, and as the sun set in the west the few that were on hand witnessed the exciting 4 x 400 metres relay race in the men’s division to bring the curtains down. Speed Printing Survivors nosed ahead of Road Busters and Blazers Athletics in a time of (3:27:75 secs) to capture the gold medal.
Abilene Verlyn Taylor in the junior ladies had something to shout about as she, the fastest amongst her peers assured herself a podium place with a gold medal in a time of (12:52 secs), so too did Pernell Mitchel also from Abilene in the ladies division in a time of (12:13 secs). In the boys 100m Arnold Nicarge, Morne Stars was the fastest in the four heats run in that division winning gold in a time of (11:08 secs), while Kirby Anthony made light work in the Men to win in (11:07 secs).
In the girls 200m it was all Verlyn Taylor (25:69 secs) representing Abilene to pick up her second gold medal on the day. The ladies 200m saw a clean sweep for Abilene, Pernell Mitchel, Gold in (25:00 secs) Desma Victor, silver in (25:31 secs) and Peterlyn Edward, Bronze in (25:77 secs). Jonathan Celestine proved that he’s still the fastest junior on the island pocketing the gold medal in the 200m in a time of (22:15 secs), while Richard Lovence showed some brilliance to capture the Men’s 200m in (21:74 secs) and the 400m in a time of ( 50:42 secs).
In the 400m for junior Boys the twin brothers of Rosen and Ross Daniel representing Survivors captured gold and bronze in a time of (50:12 secs) and (53:00 secs) respectively. Survivors’ female athletes Zhayna Spooner and Kara - Lee Emmanuel also had their podium chances as they won gold and silver in the Girls 400m in (1:02:17 secs) and (1:04:42 secs). Peterlyn Edward and Mercia Mon Cherry kept the Abilene flag flying to win gold and silver despite some of its members deflecting to form a new club called Night Riders . The two ladies crossed the finish line in (58:74 secs) and (58:93 secs) respectivley.