CASTRIES, St Lucia — St Lucia Penn Relays history will be made this month after Hamilton Reserve Bank sponsored student athletes and coaches to compete in the 2026 Penn Relays in Philadelphia, giving the island its first-ever appearance at the storied U.S. meet.
The athletes are scheduled to compete from April 23 to April 25, according to a Business Wire release, in a breakthrough moment for St Lucia’s youth track and field program and a rare opportunity for local students to test themselves on an international stage.
The Penn Relays, affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania, is widely known as the oldest and largest track and field competition in the United States, attracting athletes from schools, colleges, and elite programs.
Five student athletes from St. Mary’s College will travel to Philadelphia for the event, extending St Lucia’s track and field presence beyond regional competition and into one of the sport’s most established showcases.
Historic debut puts St Lucia Penn Relays on global stage
The 2026 appearance represents more than a ceremonial first. It gives young St Lucian athletes exposure to high-level competition and places the country alongside programs with much deeper international track experience.
Hamilton Reserve Bank said it is sponsoring the athletes and coaches as part of its support for youth development through education and sport. Lauaina Dupres, a senior relationship banker and St Lucia native, said the country’s debut at Penn Relays marks a milestone for the Caribbean and described the sponsorship as part of the bank’s effort to give back to communities where it has expanded.
The development also comes as St Lucia continues to build its profile in athletics, with the island already associated with Olympic gold medalist Julien Alfred. The Penn Relays trip now offers younger athletes a chance to compete on a broader stage tied to that growing national reputation.
Penn Relays chairman to visit St Lucia ahead of meet
Penn Relays Chairman Michael Barrett is expected to visit St Lucia and Dominica from April 8 to April 10 at the invitation of the Prime Minister and Sports Minister, adding further significance to the island’s first entry into the competition.
Barrett said Penn Relays welcomes St Lucia’s participation and thanked Hamilton Reserve Bank for helping drive development through education and sports. His visit is likely to draw added attention to the country’s historic debut and the wider regional interest surrounding the event.
For St Lucia, the sponsorship carries both symbolic and practical weight. It removes a financial barrier for student athletes while creating a pathway to compete at a meet known across the track and field world.
Hamilton Reserve Bank described itself as the largest global bank headquartered in the Caribbean and said it serves clients in 150 countries. In this case, however, the immediate impact is local: five student athletes from St Lucia will now step onto one of the sport’s biggest stages in what could become a defining moment for the island’s next generation of track talent.
