St Lucia national coach Denise Herman has expressed satisfaction with the performances of the island’s athletes at the 52nd CARIFTA Games, which concluded on Monday night in Trinidad and Tobago.

The St Lucian contingent left the championships with four medals and several national and age-group records — a performance Coach Herman believes reflected the team’s hard work and growing potential, even if it fell just short of their original medal target.

“We were expecting about six to eight medals, so we were hoping for a bit more,” Herman admitted. “But overall, the team lived up to expectations by putting in strong performances and bringing home medals.”

In addition to the podium finishes, Herman noted the importance of athletes setting new personal bests, particularly in the field events where St Lucia had several close calls.

“We had some fourth-place finishes in events like the javelin, shot put, and discus. Those were areas we were hoping would medal,” she said. “But even in those cases, the athletes came away with PBs and that’s something to be proud of.”

St Lucia also celebrated national and under-18 records during the competition, a sign that the country’s developmental pipeline is producing progress.

While standout sprinter Jady Emmanuel’s historic double in the U17 Girls 100m and 200m stole much of the spotlight, Coach Herman emphasized the collective effort and resilience of the entire team.

“The athletes came out and put in the work. Some of them made big breakthroughs and others laid the groundwork for future success,” she said.

With a blend of returning athletes and emerging talent, Herman believes the 2025 Games will serve as a springboard for St Lucia’s continued growth in Caribbean athletics.

“We’re pleased. The experience gained by these young athletes is invaluable. And as we move forward, we’ll keep building on this foundation.”