Kylla Herbert, coordinator of the Camden, NJ-based St. Kitts and Nevis Penn Relays Committee, says the Charles E. Mills Secondary College (CEMSS) in St. Kitts and Nevis carried out higher in its second successive look on the Penn Relays Carnival on the Franklin Area Stadium, College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Herbert, who can also be chairperson of the Camden-based South Jersey Caribbean Cultural and Improvement Group (SJCCDO), informed Caribbean Life on Friday, Could 2, that CEMSS competed in six occasions, inserting within the high three in three of them through the 129th operating of the Penn Relays from Thursday, April 24, to Saturday, April 26.
She mentioned CEMSS girls and boys competed within the 4x100m and 4x400m relays, the boys competed within the Javelin throw, and the women vied for a spot within the Worldwide Faculties’ 4x100m championships.
Herbert mentioned the CEMSS boys’ 4x400m relay crew members — Naseem Gerald, Vancelle Douglas, Jaheem Clarke, and Tejuan Webbe—positioned first of their heats, clocking 3:27.
She additionally mentioned the CEMSS boys’ 4x100m relay crew members — Haseem Gerald, Vancelle Douglas, Q’Son Bennett, and Tejuan Webbe—positioned third of their heats in 45.19.
Herbert mentioned the CEMSS ladies’ 4x100m relay crew — Shyan Richards, Dejhanee Moses, Uzariel Hodge, and Chadelcia Dasent—positioned second of their heats, with a time of fifty.88.
The CEMSS ladies’ 4x100m relay crew positioned eighth within the Ladies Worldwide Championships, clocking 51:03.
Herbert mentioned they competed in opposition to the highest 9 worldwide excessive faculties, together with Jamaica and different faculties worldwide.
Moreover, she mentioned the CEMSS ladies’ 4x400m relay crew – Uzariel Hodge, Anaya Rouse, Alleeanna James, and Arianna Francis – positioned tenth of their heats, with a time of 4:25.
Herbert mentioned CEMSS’s Jaheem Clarke competed within the Javelin throw championships, inserting ninth and throwing a private finest distance of 55.56.
“The Charles E. Mills Secondary College exceeded my expectations with their efficiency on the Penn Relays,” she mentioned. “Every athlete’s dedication to coaching confirmed on the monitor.
“It was the primary time on the Penn Relays for among the scholar athletes, and so they did an amazing job adjusting to the dynamics of how the Penn Relays are performed,” Herbert added. “It was an amazing pleasure to host the Charles E. Mills Secondary College in Philadelphia for the second yr.”
She mentioned the St. Kitts and Nevis Penn Relays Committee has efficiently financed the funds for CEMSS whereas in Philadelphia by means of “beneficiant donations from varied organizations and people.”
Herbert mentioned this collaborative effort included monetary donations and in-kind help from SJCCDO, Stewart Williams and members of the Sandy Level Benevolent Society (SPBS), the Nevisian Affiliation of South Florida, Bernardo Phipps, One Caribbean, the Morgan household, Jacinth Henry-Martin, ambassador to the US and OAS, Worrell Nero, the Honorary Consul Basic of St. Kitts and Nevis in Philadelphia, and plenty of particular person donors.
“I want to thank every group and person that contributed to the St. Kitts and Nevis Penn Relays initiative,” she mentioned. “I might additionally wish to thank Group Jamaica Bickle, the group that feeds Caribbean athletes at Franklin Area.”
Herbert mentioned the St. Kitts and Nevis Penn Relays Committee is “dedicated to aiding” any highschool from St. Kitts and Nevis focused on collaborating within the Penn Relays.
“However we are able to solely assist you in the event you comply with our lead with out deviation,” she pressured.
Kressell Daniel, the deputy consul normal of St. Kitts and Nevis in New York, applauded the crew’s efforts.
“Charles E. Mills Secondary College has as soon as once more demonstrated its unbelievable athletic capacity, making a outstanding impression on the 2025 Penn Relays,” he informed Caribbean Life. “Our athletes showcased excellent performances, proudly representing St. Kitts and Nevis on the worldwide stage.
“This yr, CEMSS achieved new milestones with high finishes in varied occasions, together with the boys’ and ladies’ 4x100m and 4x400m relays, in addition to Jaheem Clarke’s spectacular ninth place within the boys’ javelin throw,” he added. Their dedication, coordination, and tenacity have been evident, reinforcing the college’s rising legacy in worldwide athletics.
“This achievement is a testomony to the arduous work of the athletes, coaches, and the unwavering help from our nationwide management and international Diaspora,” Daniel continued.
Bernardo Phipps, from Cayon, St. Kitts, mentioned CEMSS “proudly stood tall for St. Kitts and Nevis.
“They confirmed the world that the spirit of a small island can shake the most important phases,” he mentioned. “Their resilience, self-discipline, and drive weren’t simply performances on the monitor however daring statements of function, delight, and chance.
“Watching them, I am reminded of my journey as a Division I scholar student-athlete chasing desires on the monitor, constructing a profession in funding banking, finance, and accounting, and ultimately serving in Compliance Legislation and Rules for america Authorities,” Phipps added. “Athletics laid the inspiration: the grit, self-discipline, and relentless pursuit of excellence that formed each step of my path. I see those self same seeds powerfully planted in every of those younger athletes.”
Coach Roatter Johnson mentioned, “We’re very grateful that our athletes got the chance to show their skills.
“I am very proud of their performances. Nevertheless, there’s plenty of room for enchancment,” he mentioned. “Having the ability to stand off and watch the performances confirmed me what we must work on to enhance and be much more aggressive subsequent yr.
“For a few of our athletes, it was their first time competing on the worldwide stage, and, as such, they have been a bit intimidated and overwhelmed, regardless that they have been nonetheless in a position to carry out effectively,” Johnson added. “This additionally made me much more decided to get them to compete much more at worldwide school-aged meets.”
Supervisor Niketa Isles mentioned she was “extraordinarily happy with our athletes. We challenged them to do higher than final yr.
“We challenged them to position within the high two of their classes to make it into the finals and to higher their private finest not simply on the monitor but in addition within the discipline, as we had one athlete within the Javelin, and so they did simply that,” she added. “We’ve some extraordinarily proficient athletes, and for them to have the ability to carry out so effectively on the Penn Relays stuffed my coronary heart with pleasure.”
Athlete Jaheem Clarke mentioned he was “very grateful for this chance to compete on the Penn Relays, not simply within the 4x400m, through which my crew positioned 1st in our class, but in addition to compete within the Javelin.
“Whereas I used to be in a position to private finest with a mark of 55.56m, I nonetheless have way more work to take action that I can throw within the excessive 60s,” he added.
Talking on behalf of CEMSS, athlete Vancelle Douglas informed a reception for Vincentian, Kittitian, and Belizean athletes on the Calabash Restaurant and Lounge in Philadelphia that the college was “sincerely grateful “for internet hosting us on the banquet.
“We might additionally wish to thank Ms. Kylla Herbert and the whole physique of the South Jersey Cultural Improvement Group, in addition to Mr. Steward Joseph and the remainder of SBPS, in addition to Mr. Cordice,” he mentioned. “We, the athletes, are extraordinarily grateful for the expertise and the recollections we created.
“With out your help and steering, we’d not be right here right this moment,” Douglas mentioned. “This chance means nice to us, and we actually admire it.
“After all, I can not depart with out saying thanks to our coaches and administration who’ve labored tirelessly to get us right here,” he added. “Seeing the spectacular performances has motivated me to coach more durable and push myself to enhance in order that I can change into even sooner than I am right this moment.”
