Apr 26 2008
Habouring the Olympic Dream
By Terry Finisterre

Done with school does not mean done with athletics. Certainly not for Erma Gene Evans, St Lucia's national record holder for the Women's Javelin Throw and one of two St Lucian athletes so far (along with high jumper Levern Spencer) to have qualified for the Olympic Games later this year in Beijing, China.

Originally from Monchy, Erma Gene ended her collegiate career last year as the second best javelin thrower in the history of the University of Texas el Paso (UTEP). She gained All-America honors, finishing second at the NCAA National Championships. And she eventually earned a degree in Marketing in December 2007.

But the 24-year-old, who transferred from Sir Arthur Lewis Community College in 2004, continued training. A former Pan Am champion and multiple CARIFTA medallist, as well as a former OECS champion, Erma Gene is clearly working towards making her mark this year and representing St Lucia to the fullest.
Four times during her time as Minor, the young St Lucian improved her national record.

On Sunday, 29 March, competing at the UTEP Springtime Invitational on Kidd Field in el Paso, Erma Gene improved yet again. Throwing 57.22m, she totally outclassed the competition to take first place on her first throw.

Erma Gene joins Darvin Edwards (High Jump), Sandisha Antoine (Triple Jump), Levern Spencer (indoor High Jump) and Leander Ernest (indoor 800m) as St Lucia’s national record setters in 2008. Her throw also places her in the top 20 best throwers on the planet so far for 2008, and second in the Americas.

Obviously, this is Erma Gene's best start ever, and now that she's done with her studies, she can focus on training for the biggest meet of her life. Hopefully, she can go further still and pass the 60m barrier this season, which would put her amongst the athletics elite. Regardless, she's already done herself, her family and St Lucia proud.

2008 Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Women's Volleyball Championships
Championship game: St Lucia 3-1 St Kitts-Nevis (12-25, 25-21, 25-18, 25-23)
Third place play-off: Antigua-Barbuda 3-2 Dominica (13-25, 25-20, 25-15, 23-25 , 15-8)

Individual awards:
Most Valuable Player: Dania Hamilton (St Lucia)
Best Server: Elizabeth Smith (Antigua-Barbuda)
Best Spiker: Anna Maria Xavier (Dominica)
Best Blocker: Tessa Payne (Antigua-Barbuda)
Best Defender: Angella Smith (St Kitts-Nevis)
Best Libero: Nadiege Agustin (Antigua-Barbuda)
Best Receiver: Elizabeth Joseph (Dominica)
Best Setter: Vernessa Burke (Antigua-Barbuda)
Best Scorer: Brenda Edinburgh St Kitts-Nevis)