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Magloire Takes NCAA Silver
 (24 May 2001)
- Dane Magloire was a triple jump silver medallist at the 39th Annual National Collegiate Athletics Association Division II outdoor track and field championships on Thursday, his best jump measuring 15.66m (51'04.50) and earning him second place, behind Tim Rusan. Magloire and Rusan are both juniors at St. Augustine's College in North Carolina, Magloire from the St. Lucian village of Dennery. Last year, Dane was fourth in the NCAA triple jump; he was third in 1999. The 25-year-old cleared a career-best 16.21m (53'2.5") for the triple jump earlier this year.
Last year, Dane was a long jump national champion. Unfortunately, he did not jump nearly as well as his career-best 7.8m this year, his best clearance (his final leap) of 7.28m good enough only for sixth. Magloire improved with each jump, clearing 6.94, 7.06, 7.14 and 7.21 before his final leap. Rusan won his second national title for the Falcons.
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Bolo Twice On Target
 (25 May 2001)- He started the 2001 season fairly quietly, but St. Lucian forward David "Bolo" Flavius got on the score-sheet twice for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Friday. In front of 1,542 fans, the Hounds held Montreal winless, defeating the Impact 2-0. Flavius scored both goals.
In the 20th minute Flavius, playing up front in a 4-3-3 formation, shot from the edge of the eighteen-yard box after receiving a pass from Ricardo Iribarren. Ten minutes later, Flavius showed off his explosive speed, converting from a John Jones assist. "I think if you get an early lead they can't counter attack," said Kai Haaskivi, Riverhounds' head coach and general manager. Coach Haaskivi says the team gave a solid effort.
Last year, Flavius was the leading scorer for the National Professional Soccer League's Pittsburgh franchise. The 2001 Pittsburgh team has now won two of four games in the NPSL.
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Arlain Lights Up Lucelec Open
(25 May 2001) - David Dauvergne won every domestic tennis tournament played in 2000, holding the number one ranking almost all year. The thirtysomething vet was named to the 2001 Davis Cup team that played in Port au Prince, Haiti. Also on that team, playing behind Kane Easter, was former number one Sirsean Arlain, a sophomore at Averett College in the Virginias.
Thursday, the 20-year-old shook off some of the rust that's been accumulating since the Davis Cup in March, beating Dauvergne in the men's final of the Lucelec Open. Sirsean played intelligently, getting past Dominic Mauricette, 16-year-old Marlon Alcee, Colin Hunte and Cameron Moffat on his way to the final. Up 5-1 in the opening set, Arlain let his opponent get back into the game before beating him 6-4. The second set was the younger man's exhibition piece, as he played from the baseline and waited for Dauvergne to make mistakes. Sirsean mixed in some athleticism to run away with a 6-1 victory.
Jessica Atkinson, a teenager still, dominated the women's draw, and Colin Hunte the veterans' – he also won the doubles with his father, Errol. The St. Lucia Tennis Association is planning another tournament for June. The Lucelec Open – sponsored by St. Lucia Electricity Services Ltd. – was a lot of work for veterans, who were asked to play doubles, the veterans' draw and men's open. The upcoming tournament will have a similar volume of work for the juniors. Atkinson, Alcee and his little brother Ian will lead St. Lucia on the regional circuit later this year, and the Association wants them well prepared.
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National Record, But Zeph Misses Finals
(26 May 2001) - University of North Florida junior Zepherinus Joseph had a less than auspicious time at this week's National Collegiate Athletics Association Division II outdoor track and field championships, contested in Edwardsville, IL. Doing the 5K/10K double, he ran a personal-best time for the former event, but still failed to make the final cut.
By position, Zepherinus' results were actually better in his earlier event, the men's 10000m run. Though he was more than ten seconds off his personal best (29:48.97) the 25-year-old from Mon Repos in St. Lucia clocked 29:59.47 to end eighth in the Thursday finals.
Friday, in the second heat of the 5000m run, the Micoud Secondary and Central Arizona College alumnus ran 14:33.87 to finish seventh in his heat and thirteenth overall. He missed out on a finals berth by a split-second. Zepherinus' time was his fastest ever. He ran 14:37.77 in March. This is Zepherinus' first year of DII competition after two years and two national championships at junior college. He has re-established personal and national records for the 1500m, 5000m, 10000m during an outstanding season.
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Abilene Again!
Hugh Breustraal earned a special award for coaching in track and field at this year's sports awards ceremony. The head coach for the Abilene Wildcats, Hugh's charges have dominated sprinting in recent years, and the ability of the Vieux Fort-based 'Cats to draw on talent from the entire southern region has led to incredible strength in depth. Sunday, in the National Individual Track and Field Championships, Breustraal's Wildcats ran away with another great performance at Mindoo Philip Park.
Nathan Justin, Breustraal's favourite pupil, is a Micoud nineteen-year-old (he'll be twenty this year) who holds a national record, and who represented St. Lucia at the 2000 Carifta Games. Sunday, he was the most outstanding male athlete, with three gold medals. In the 100m (10.32 seconds) he smoked a field including defending national champion, Edmund Estephane of Dennery, and former junior Sportsman of the Year Damian Henville, running for Mercury. Nathan (21.81) beat Damian again for the 200m crown, also holding off a challenge from Carifta finalist Fabian Felix (Morne Stars, 22.38) who ended third. Nathan (47.80) and Fabian (49.00) were 1-3 for the 400m as well, separated by Jeremie Richardson (48.25) of Mercury.
Marie-Clare Louis of Abilene had an off day by her standards, winning only the women's 200m, and that in the slow time of 26.94, which was still good enough to beat a field that included Energizers' Theodocia Pierre and fifteen-year-old Mercury runner Indira Laurencin.
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OPINION
It's Official! Time For AAA To Fix Things
(20 May 2001) - Nathan Justin is the fastest man in St. Lucia…for now. Probably for a while yet, as he appears to be getting faster every time he steps on a track. That's got to be a concern for the Amateur Athletics Association. Last year, when Justin broke the junior national 200m record, there were plenty of questions. Athletes and administrators in St. Lucia and elsewhere questioned the legitimacy of Nathan's performance; why?
Nathan is a member of the Abilene Wildcats, and his head coach is one of the AAA's meet officials. Sunday, when Nathan won the men's 100m dash, the questions came once more. Is he really running as fast as they say he is? The athletes ought, perhaps, to have better things on their minds. Maybe they should be more concerned that this teenager (he turns twenty this year) is beating them with metres to spare. That's a concern for the athletes. The Association ought to be worried that it's image might be sullied, however unfair the allegations, however spurious or jejune.
Think about this: when the media reports, in good faith, that a St. Lucian athlete has exceeded a national record, AAA officials invariably respond that the record is subject to confirmation. No celebration, just that statement. Who watches the watchmen? Again, let it be known that I'm not questioning the integrity either of the Association or its officials. Nathan's coach probably is an honest official, but it's important to do the right thing and to be seen to be doing the right thing. The hint of impropriety is dangerous.
This leads, though, to another problem. The number of officials available for local meets is clearly insufficient. Sunday, a single field events crew worked the jumps and throws. They were unable to stage the triple jump, and the discus ended in darkness. With the imminent construction of the National Stadium the AAA has, to its credit, recognized the need to prepare more officials. It's well past time that they got to work on this.
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Defending Women's Cricket Champs For SVG
(20 May 2001) - The defending champion St. Lucia national team leaves Sunday for the West Indies Women's Cricket Federation tournament in Kingstown St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Skipper Verena Felicien says that she's expecting good things from her side, seven members of which were called up to West Indies duty for the regional team's recent victorious series against Lancashire. "The series was great for us, and we had a chance to do some training here, and in Trinidad and Tobago as well. That was useful.
" Last year, playing at home, St. Lucia won a third consecutive league title, but they failed to repeat as knockout champions. Felicien, in an interview with DBS television, said that with the wealth of experience at her command, she wants to bring both trophies back home.
The team will look to the more experienced players like Felicien, vice-captain Julitta Herman and former vice-captain Eugena Gregg for strong performances, especially with the bat. The important bowlers include Pamela Alfred, Philippa Thomas and 14-year old Vieux Fort medium pacer Minelva Flavius. Aside from Felicien, Gregg, Alfred, Thomas and Herman, the other two West Indian players are wicketkeepers Nadine George and Roselyn Emmanuel.
The veteran Elizabeth Williams will be doing double duty as a player and as mgr of the St. Lucian team. The thorn among roses, coach Kenneth Arthur returns for another run. The remainder of the team is as follows: Lydia Lubrin, Leona Vitalis, Lorena Vitte, Antonia Vitte, Hermina Vitte, Roselyn Emmanuel and Cecilia Mann. The St. Lucian campaign begins Tuesday at the Arnos Vale playing field against WIWCF newcomers Guyana.
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Strong Cup Jumps St. Lucia Seven
(17 May 2001) - For the first time since the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the USA, the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking has a new leader. Following an impressive victory over Portugal, World and European Champions France edge ahead of 1998 World Cup finalists Brazil, whose run of poor results in the South American World Cup qualifiers continues. France succeed Germany, 4th placed Italy, and second-placed Brazil to become only the fourth team to top the World Ranking since its inception in August 1993.
Mexico, 13th overall, are still the top team in the Football Confederation, followed closely by the United States at number 15. Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica are also in the top 50. As for St. Lucia, a good performance from the senior national team in the group stage of the Caribbean Cup has seen a seven-spot rise from last month's ranking, St. Lucia now overtaking Hong Kong, Rwanda, Burundi and Swaziland among others.
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Promesse Fulfilled
(12 May 2001) - Ronald Promesse has graduated from the University of Texas el Paso, earning his Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and Sports Studies, with a minor in Psychology. "Receiving a college degree means the world to me," says Ronald. "It's a clear indication of my hard work and success…we all want to be successful athletes, but here in order to be a successful athlete you must be a successful student first. No grades, no competing."
The 26-year-old sprinter from Vieux Fort holds St. Lucian national records for the men's 100m and 200m races, and he represented the nation at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Unfortunately, that experience ended in injury, but Ronald's immediate focus is on his time at UTEP, where he became friends with Barbadian sprinter Obadele Thompson. "Having been one of the first persons in my family to graduate from University, I am proud to say thanks to my family and friends who have always supported throughout my career. Even when things seemed bad, they were always there for me."
Ronald left for the United States in 1995, but he started at a junior college before going on to one of the best sprint programmes in North America. Now he urges young athletes to learn patience and perseverance. "Whether in track and field, football, volleyball, netball, swimming, tennis, cricket, basketball or whatever, don't second believe that the doors are closed. The doors to success are always open, you just have to believe in your ability to succeed, and tell yourself you can do it. Along the way to success there will always be obstacles, and adversity, but it's how you deal with the obstacles and adversities [that] will make you a better and stronger person, mentally and physically." Ronald is planning to compete in Europe this summer, but inasmuch as he's looking forward to starting his career as a professional athlete, he's also hoping to begin a Master's degree later this year.
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Charlery Will Be Back Next Season
(15 May 2001) - Burly St. Lucian forward Ken Charlery will stay with Boston United for the 2001-2002 season. Fifth-leading scorer in England's Football Conference, Charlery was selected for the England Semi-Professional side that played the Highland League at Inverness recently. He's one of twelve players who will be coming back to York Street next season. During the last close season, Charlery moved to Boston from Division Three (now relegated) Barnet, where he played with fellow St. Lucian international Warren Hackett, a defender. In 2000-2001, Charlery went on a scoring spree in the semi-professional ranks, one of only five players to score as many as twenty goals for the season. At 36, it's unlikely that Charlery will be seeing regular international duty, but he could draw interest from one or two clubs in England's higher divisions.
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Lambert Does Well For UT Champs
(13 May 2001) - Tennessee's fourth-ranked track team broke one of collegiate track's great dynasties with a convincing win at the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Championships in Columbia, South Carolina. Tennessee beat Florida and Arkansas, the first time any team had roughed up Arkansas outdoors since they joined the SEC in 1992. The Vols did best the Razorbacks at the SEC Indoors in 1996, making Bill Webb and his Tennessee charges the only outfit to top the Hogs at any SEC meet (indoor or outdoor) ever. With the win, Tennessee owns 23 SEC Outdoor titles all-time, breaking a tie with LSU.
Tennessee's sprint corps blazed to the front to provide the Vols with a winning cushion. The 4x100m relay team took first in 39.57, Tennessee's steady quartet consisting of Sean Lambert, Justin Gatlin, Hassaan Stamps and Leonard Scott. The Vols rolled up a 1-2-5 finish for 22 points in the 100m dash. Scott won in 10.22 despite running into a slight headwind. Gatlin finished second and Grenadian runner Lambert wrapped up fifth. In the 200M dash, Gatlin sprinted to the win. Scott took fourth and Lambert fifth to push UT higher on the leader board. Tennessee rolled up 19 points in the 200m dash.
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2001 St. Lucia National Track and Field Championships
20 May, Mindoo Philip Park, Castries
Hand timing / Grass surface
100m U20 boys
Tarbin George, Vieux Fort, 10.88
B. Edwards, 10.91
Kenson Casimir, Leon Hess, 10.99
100m men
Nathan Justin, Abilene, 10.32
Edmund Estephane, Dennery, 10.36
Damian Henville, Mercury, 10.88
100m women
Levern Spencer, Entrepot, 12.44
Marie-Clare Louis, Abilene, 12.56
T. Bellamy, 13.47
200m U20 boys
Tarbin George, Vieux Fort, 22.58
Jarvin Moise, Morne Stars, 22.86
Ryan Auguste, 23.34
200m men
Nathan Justin, Abilene, 21.81
Damian Henville, Mercury, 21.91
Fabian Felix, Morne Stars, 22.38
200m women
Marie-Clare Louis, Abilene, 26.94
Theodocia Pierre, 27.09
Indira Laurencin, Mercury, 27.60
400m U20 boys
Javin Moise, Morne Stars, 51.14
Lester Justin, Abilene, 52.60
Gamian Hyacinth, 52.69
400m men
Nathan Justin, Abilene, 47.80
Jeremie Richardson, Mercury, 48.25
Fabian Felix, Morne Stars, 49.00
800m U20 boys
Kasi Mathieu, Energizers, 2:00.89
Gavin Lesforis, Survivors, 2:08.67
Kent Wilson, Energizers, 2:10.15
800m women
Nessa Paul, 2:36.30
Kisha Gustave, 2:41.49
G. Jules, 2:42.41
1500m men
Nolan Duncan, Entrepot, 4:35.46
Neville Dupre, Road Busters, 4:37.17
Ian Octave, Rock Hall, 4:39.07
1500m women
Nessa Paul, Soufriere, 5:09.57
Vienne Flavius, Rock Hall, 5:28.56
Kaiser Seany, Dennery, 5:44.26
5000 men
Jason Sayers, Road Busters, 16:22.13
M. Biscette, 20:26.49
A. Neptune, 20:33.38
5000 women
Nessa Paul, Soufriere, 21:08
S. Griffith, 24:44.83
High jump men
Darnell Poyotte, Legends, 1.98
Travis Joseph, Morne Stars, 1.95
Kenson Casimir, Leon Hess, 1.90
Javelin men
James Prospere, 51.50
Gael Henry, 49.62
Herbert Fanis, 49.12
Javelin women
Emma-Gene Evans, Leon Hess, 37.65
Sarah Alexander, Abilene, 34.75
Shot putt U20 boys
Kenson Casimir, Leon Hess, 10.79
Neville Joseph, 10.69
Charles Serieux, 10.52
Shot putt men
James Prospere, 13.2
Akim Herbert, Elite, 12.92
Gael Henry, 11.78
Shot putt women
Tamara Popo, 11.2
Tressa-Ann Charles, Corinth, 9.7
Sarah Alexander, Abilene, 9.3
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Zandos Beaten In Slugfest
(20 May 2001) - The St. Lucia national rugby football team, the Zandolis, lost 12-7 Sunday to a team from visiting British naval vessel, HMS Sheffield. The fifteen-a-side game was played in fifteen-minute quarters at the Club St. Lucia Grounds in Cap Estate. Sheffield scored first, a second-quarter penalty. That was the margin of their advantage until the third quarter, when St. Lucia and West Indies forward Kent St. Catherine broke tackle after tackle to score the game's first try. Trailing in the fourth, Sheffield's forwards teamed up for a try of their own, adding a drop kick late to seal the victory.
Colvis Samuels is national team captain and president of the Rugby Football Union. He says he was satisfied with the game, but the fact that St. Lucia dressed fewer than twenty players for this contest ought to be telling. The low score reflected stout defending by the home team, but either side might have gained from some technical adjustments. The sailors got inside the St. Lucian twenty-two-yard line time and again, but they did not try their first drop kick until the final quarter. As for St. Lucia, their superior speed should have been a factor, but their failure to use the punt except when their backs were to the wall showed their technical inexperience.
The RFU now turns its attention to the 2001 St. Lucia Ten-a-Side tournament, scheduled for July. Teams from Bermuda, Jamaica and the United States Virgin Islands have expressed an interest in traveling to St. Lucia for the weekend tournament, which immediately precedes the island's Carnival celebrations. The Zandolis have not fared well in the past four years of their own tournament, with competition normally coming from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Guyana.
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Maple Wins OECS Netball Again
(20 May 2001) - Maple of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), beat St Lucia's Shamrock to retain the ECGC Organisation of Eastern Caribbean Netball Champion of Champions Club title at the Nevis Netball Complex on Sunday. Maple stopped former champions Shamrock 58-55 in the deciding game to maintain a 100 per cent record in the tournament and stretch SVG's recent dominance of the championship. Three Jewel Joggers had won the title for SVG three successive years from 1997 to 1999.
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