The island’s top athletes are preparing to represent the island on two major international stages after the Saint Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC) announced its shortlisted teams for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games.
The selected athletes will compete between July 23 and August 8, as the Olympic Committee continues its long-term strategy of developing elite talent on the road to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
SLOC President Alfred Emmanuel said the committee’s selection process forms part of a structured pathway designed to prepare Saint Lucian athletes for successive international competitions.
“Saint Lucia Olympic Committee has a pathway as it relates to games under our banner for the quadrennial,” Emmanuel said. “The quadrennial I’m talking about would have been 2025 to 2028 with the ultimate pathway to the Los Angeles Olympic Games.”
He noted that the Commonwealth Games and CAC Games are key milestones in that journey.
“We’re going to have the Pan American Senior Championships and in 2028, the Olympics in Los Angeles,” he said. “So we have a clear pathway.”
Chef de Mission for the Commonwealth Games Helena Renee outlined the athletes selected to represent Saint Lucia at the multi-sport event.
“Kaelan Vitalis, he is a 110 meters hurdles. He’ll be competing on July 27 and if he goes through to the finals, that finals is that same day,” Renee said.
She added that the country will also be represented by two experienced quarter-milers.
“The second athlete, we have two 400-meter runners. One, Michael Joseph, he was on the Olympic team. He’s running the 400 meters, and we also have Maverick Palmfield.”
Renee noted that Palmfield is already overseas preparing for the competition.
“Maverick is in London already and so we’ll meet him there.”
Meanwhile, Chef de Mission for the Central American and Caribbean Games David “Shakes” Christopher announced Saint Lucia’s contingent for that competition across several sporting disciplines.
“In athletics, we have Kaelan Vitalis, 110 meters hurdles,” Christopher said.
He added that the country will also be represented in golf, sailing and boxing.
“In golf, we have Yadu Hurst, men’s competition,” he said.
Regarding sailing, Christopher announced, “We have Luke, one person, dinghy competition. I think Luke is overseas already. He’s in France.”
He also confirmed the island’s boxing representative.
“Boxing, we have John Didier, 80 kg.”
The Saint Lucia Olympic Committee said the selections followed a rigorous evaluation process intended to ensure the island fields its strongest possible teams. Officials also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting national sporting federations as they continue to nurture local talent and build on Saint Lucia’s growing international sporting reputation, inspired by the achievements of Olympic champion Julien Alfred and other athletes competing at the highest level.