When Jady Emmanuel stormed to victory in both the 100m and 200m finals at the 52nd CARIFTA Games in Trinidad and Tobago, she did more than just win gold — she rewrote history. At just 16 years old, Emmanuel became the first St Lucian junior athlete to win CARIFTA gold in the sprints, signalling the arrival of what may be the island’s next global track sensation.
Behind her ascent is Coach Denise Herman, the long-time national coach and head of the Choiseul Athletics Club, whose vision and nurturing of Jady’s talent has turned raw promise into golden execution.
Having covered and observed some of the world’s best athletes for many years, I couldn’t help but recognize something exceptional in Emmanuel. Her performances, poise, and progress suggest she is a rare gem—perhaps the most advanced junior St Lucian sprinter ever at this age.
“She’s confident, determined, and has an uncommon drive for someone so young,” said Coach Herman. “She just doesn’t like to lose. She always gives her best.”
Jady’s story began at Banse La Grace Combined School, and it was her primary school teacher, Coach Twain Edward, who first brought her to Coach Herman’s attention back in 2017. At the time, Herman was already a fixture in St Lucian athletics and trusted Edward’s instincts.
“Twain told me, ‘I have two girls here—Jada and Jady Emmanuel—who are really good,’” Herman recalled. “That stuck with me. When her older sister Jada enrolled at Choiseul Secondary, their mom began bringing Jady to my after-school training sessions, even though she wasn’t a student here yet.”
That commitment made it easy when Jady eventually selected Choiseul Secondary as her school of choice, and she quickly began excelling in juvenile events—80m and 150m races—before making her first international impression at the NACAC Age Group Championships in the Dominican Republic, where she finished fourth in the 80m and fifth overall. The transition to the standard 100m and 200m events was seamless.
In Trinidad, Jady delivered her most commanding performances yet, clocking 11.50 in the 100m and 23.47 in the 200m, both personal bests. What made her double even more impressive is the confidence she showed before even stepping into the starting blocks.
-Terry Finisterre photo
“We arrived on the Wednesday, and on Thursday during a light workout, she ran part of the curve for the 200m,” Herman recalled. “She looked at me and said, ‘Coach, I’m going to win this 200.’ She had just done a few strides and already felt she was ahead of where she needed to be.”
Her achievements now stand as a landmark in St Lucian athletics, surpassing even the historical milestone set just two years ago by Naomi London, who won silver medals in the sprints at the 2023 CARIFTA Games. In terms of performances at this age, Jady’s times even eclipse those of Julien Alfred, now a world indoor and Olympic champion.
Still, Herman remains grounded in her approach: “Jady looks up to Julien and Naomi. She wants to be part of that legacy, and I believe if she stays focused and healthy, she can get to the Olympic level — and not just qualify, but also medal.”
Emmanuel is currently in Form 4 at Choiseul Secondary School, and Herman emphasizes that academics are just as important in the journey. The school has rallied around her, helping her maintain a strong GPA and prepare for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams.
“She wants to be an all-rounder,” Herman said. “The goal is to complete high school and then look at scholarships. The right university will have to match both her academic goals and her athletic development.”
Interest from U.S. colleges has already begun, and with the guidance of Herman and assistant coach Zack Ferguson, Emmanuel’s foundation is solid. But Herman is in no rush to push her protégé into early decisions.
“There’s still time,” she said. “We’ll weigh the options carefully. It’s about finding the right fit, not just the biggest name.”
-DBS TV
With two CARIFTA gold medals and national pride behind her, Jady Emmanuel represents not only the future of St Lucian athletics but also the present. Her poise, discipline, and raw talent are already opening doors.
“She has her mind made up that this is one of those targets for her,” said Herman of Jady’s Olympic aspirations. “It is not too young at 16 to be thinking about those dreams… The path is set: continue training, the hard work, staying fit and healthy — those are some of the things that will empower her to achieve those goals.”
Main photo: A proud Coach Denise Herman with her prized pupil Jady Emmanuel.