Three of St Lucia’s most celebrated athletes—Julien Alfred, Daren Sammy, and Levern Spencer—have been awarded the distinguished St Lucia Cross (SLC) in recognition of their distinguished service in sports activities.
The announcement was revamped the weekend as a part of the nation’s Independence Day celebrations.
The honours, conferred by the Governor Basic as Chancellor of the Order of St Lucia on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, acknowledge the trio’s immense contributions to the nation’s sporting legacy. The official investiture ceremony is scheduled for March.
Julien Alfred, of St Lucia, crosses the end line to win the ladies’s 100m in the course of the Diamond League ultimate 2024 athletics meet in Brussels, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. At proper is second positioned Dina Asher-Smith, of Nice Britain. (AP Picture/Frederic Sierakowski).
On the Paris 2024 Olympics, Alfred surprised the world together with her 100m victory, clocking a nationwide document of 10.72 seconds within the ultimate. She adopted up with a silver medal within the 200m, additional elevating St Lucia’s standing in world athletics. Earlier in 2024, she received the 60m gold medal on the World Athletics Indoor Championships.
The younger sprinting sensation additionally holds a silver medal from the 2022 Commonwealth Video games and has set a number of data all through her NCAA profession, changing into the primary lady in NCAA historical past to interrupt the seven-second barrier within the 60m occasion.
Daren Sammy.
Sammy, the present head coach of the West Indies cricket workforce in all codecs, has been acknowledged for his vital contributions to cricket and youth growth. He made historical past in 2004 as the primary St Lucian to play worldwide cricket, making his One-Day Worldwide (ODI) debut towards Bangladesh.
His Take a look at debut in 2007 was equally historic, as he claimed figures of seven for 66 towards England—the perfect bowling efficiency by a West Indian on debut since Alf Valentine in 1950.
As captain, Sammy led the West Indies to victory within the ICC World Twenty20 tournaments in 2012 and 2016, making him the one captain to win the T20 World Cup twice. He was additionally a part of the West Indies workforce that received the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy.
Past his enjoying profession, Sammy has performed a vital function within the growth of cricket in St. Lucia and the broader Caribbean, inspiring a brand new era of gamers and proving that expertise from small island nations could make a worldwide influence.
Levern Spencer.
Levern Spencer’s exceptional profession in athletics has earned her certainly one of St Lucia’s highest honours. The excessive jumper, who hails from Cacao, Babonneau, represented St Lucia in 4 Olympic Video games and eight World Championships, constantly showcasing excellence on the worldwide stage.
Amongst her many achievements, Spencer received gold at each the Commonwealth Video games and the Pan American Video games, bringing pleasure and recognition to her homeland. Her longevity and dedication to excessive bounce have made her some of the revered athletes from the Caribbean.
– Leighton Levy
Source link
