Team Saint Lucia is all set to participate in XXXVII CARIFTA Aquatics Championships

The team of Saint Lucia is all set to participate in the XXXVII CARIFTA Aquatics Championships from March 28 to April 7, 2024 in the Bahamas.

The Saint Lucia Aquatics Federation has named a strong 10-member team to compete over the Easter weekend at the Betty Kelly-Kenning Aquatics Center, part of the Queen Elizabeth Sports Center Complex in Nassau. The swimming competition concludes on 3 April.

Headlining the team are Antoine Destang and Tristan Dorville, both of whom are student athletes at The Bolles School in Miami, Florida, USA. Destang (2023) and Dorville (2022) were the last two high points winners in the boys 13-14 age group. Both will compete this year in the 15-17 division.

With the introduction of the 18 and over exhibition division for the first time this year, Team Saint Lucia will also include Tokyo 2020 Olympian, Mikaili Charlemagne. Also based in the United States, she is a postgraduate student at Yale University. Naekeisha Louis, a member of last year's team, will be in the 18 and over division as well. 18 and over swimmers will receive medals, but will not be awarded team points. The team also includes four other swimmers returning from 2023. Presently attending Walter Johnson High School in Maryland, USA, Fayth Jeffrey will once again contest the 13-14 girls.

Ethan Hazell and Karic Charles will join Destang and Dorville in the 15-17 boys category. And Noah Dorville moves up to the 13-14 age range.

Making their CARIFTA debuts will be Fayth Lubrun in the 15-17 girls, and Jayden Xu in the 13-14 boys. The team will be led by head coach John McLennon, and team manager Constance Rene.

At the CARIFTA Congress, Saint Lucia will be presenting its bid in an effort to secure the hosting of this prestigious meet for 2026. With the commencement of construction on the National Aquatic Centre now underway, the expected timeline for completion is September 2025, leaving a seven-month period for testing and preparations ahead of hosting CARIFTA in April 2026.

A total of 26 member federations will contest XXXVII CARIFTA Aquatics Championships in three aquatic disciplines - Swimming, Open Water, and Water Polo. The Bahamas are the defending champions.

The complete team representing Saint Lucia is as follows:

BOYS 13-14 Noah Dorville 13-14 Jayden Xu 15-17 Antoine Destang 15-17 Tristan Dorville 15-17 Karic Charles 15-17 Ethan Hazell GIRLS 13-14 Fayth Jeffrey 15-17 Fayth Lubrun 18+ Naekeisha Louis 18+ Mikaili Charlemagne