The Caribbean region had plenty to celebrate at the recent World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow. Three remarkable women from the Caribbean made history with their outstanding performances and gold medal wins.
Saint Lucian sprinter Julien Alfred lived up to her favorite status, and “speed queen” nickname blazing to victory in the 60m dash with a time of 6.98 seconds. This made Alfred the first athlete to win a World Indoor Championships gold medal for her country.
Thea LaFond of Dominica pulled off a 15.01m jump to take gold in the triple jump. With reigning Olympic champion Yulimar Rojas absent, LaFond seized her opportunity and became Dominica’s first ever gold medalist at the World Indoor Championships.
Bahamian hurdler Devynne Charlton provided another historic moment by winning the 60m hurdles in 7.65 seconds, breaking her own world record set just three weeks prior. Her run capped an exceptional meet for Caribbean athletes.
The trio’s victories continue the Caribbean’s proud tradition of excellence in track and field on the global stage.
For Alfred, LaFond and Charlton, their sights now turn to the ultimate prize – medals at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics. While the competition will be fierce, they have proven over the early months of this season that they are primed to achieve greatness in France this summer.