CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC) – The St Lucian government has paid tribute to the country’s world-ranked high jumper Levern Spencer following her return to the island from the IAAF World Championship in Moscow.
Government officials including Member of Parliament Alvina Reynolds and Sports Minister Shawn Edward turned up at the Hewannora International Airport to greet her.

Spencer placed 11th at the World Athletic Championship in Russia and won gold at the 2013 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Championship in Morelia, Mexico, breaking her own eight-year record set at the 2005 championship.
“I call her our high-jumping queen. She deserves a place of honour I think in Saint Lucia,” said Reynolds, Spencer’s Parliamentary Representative.
“And it just made me feel so proud as somebody who is born and raised in Babonneau, to be able to lift my head high and say, she has so much in her but she remains humble in her community and that is what I think I admire about Levern.”
Spencer, currently ranked seventh in the world, also won a number of medals during performances across Europe this year.
Government officials have described her performances as commendable and promised that the Kenny Anthony administration will continue to support Spencer and other elite athletes.
“I think (what) is very important in this exercise is that we are sending a message not just to Levern but to all the sports men and women in Saint Lucia that once you are prepared to excel and you can go out there and represent our country with pride and dignity the government will be there to provide support,” said Sports Minister Shawn Edwards.
“And we will spare no effort in the ministry to ensure that Levern and other elite athletes get the support and the backing of the government as they go out there to compete on the world stage.