Youth from secondary schools around the country will have a chance to continue developing their pole vault skills with the top vaulters Saint Lucia has ever produced. Arriving back on the island this weekend are three individuals whose journeys began to intertwine a decade ago, and whose presence this week seeks to inspire and lead the next generation of pole vaulters.
Micky Ferdinand, a native of Desruisseaux and graduate of Micoud Secondary School, is returning from the Texas A&M University – Commerce, where he is on a full scholarship for high jump and pole vault. After being introduced to the pole vault at a small school clinic in 2009, Ferdinand developed himself in the sport, winning the gold medal at the 2014 CARIFTA Games where he also began a transition into the high jump event. His mark of 2.15 metres in the high jump in 2017 set him on a course towards university, in August 2018.
Rick Valcin, a native of La Croix Maingot and graduate of the Gros Islet Secondary School, is returning from Dubuque, Iowa. He graduated from the University of Dubuque, after winning the 2014 NCAA Division III national championship in pole vault. Valcin was a silver medalist at the 2009 CARIFTA Games, hosted here in Saint Lucia. He later performed well in the 2009 Castries Market Street Vault, which led to entry into Cowley College in Arkansas City, Kansas, a mere four weeks later.
Three-time Olympic qualifier Dominic Johnson is accompanied by his eldest daughter Isabella who is an 18-year-old senior in high school in Arizona. She has been vaulting for four years. The Saint Lucia Pole Vault Summit will allow her to interact and train alongside our local girls and provide an international experience through the sport.
The Saint Lucia Pole Vault Summit is the foundational week of development for the sport on the island, combining a development clinic (Monday December 9), training sessions for our top national junior jumpers (Tuesday night December 10), the inaugural boys and girls interschools pole vault championships (Wednesday December 11), training sessions for our top national junior jumpers, and the National Day Street Vault (Friday December 13).
The launch of the event for all stakeholders, media members, athletes, coaches and interested member of the public will take place at the Community Jumps Centre on Monday December 9 at 10:00am.
Key partners on the Saint Lucia Pole Vault Summit include the Mon Repos Athletics Academy, Saint Lucia Athletics Association, Ministry of Youth Development and Sports,
Ministry of Education and sponsorship support from the National Lotteries Authority, Blue Waters Saint Lucia Ltd and Harbor Club. Questions regarding the event may be directed to Andy Behl, Programme Director for the Mon Repos Athletics Academy, Jumps Center and Pole Vault Saint Lucia on 488 3318.
