The Ave Maria Girls’ Infant and Primary School hosted a joint sports meet on Monday at the Mindoo Philip Park in Marchand, showcasing some of Saint Lucia’s promising young athletic talent. At the end of the competition, Pierre House (Yellow) emerged victorious with 214 points, followed by Riviere House (Red) with 206 points, Egan House (Blue) with 203 points, and Philips House with 179 points. Standout Performers: Ave Maria’s Physical Education Teacher, Menray Papin, expressed his satisfaction that the event was successfully held despite initial setbacks. This was the first meet at Marchand for the year. The venue had had events scheduled since January, but a soggy surface and remedial drainage works, compounded by persistent rain, left the park unusable. “Leading up to the sports meet, we thought it wouldn’t take place because the field wasn’t marked, and we were experiencing inclement weather. But thankfully, it happened, and everything ran smoothly,” he said. Papin emphasised the importance of encouraging girls to participate in sports, highlighting that their talents could one day lead to international recognition, much like Julien Alfred, Saint Lucia’s Olympic gold medalist. “We cannot single out any gender. We must give everyone a chance. As you can see, we already have a Saint Lucian Olympic gold medalist. On the island, I believe we should encourage more girls to get involved in sports so we can produce even more Olympians.”