In 2024, Julien Alfred triumphed in the women's 60m at the prestigious Millrose Games, while Talya Lorde, one of the youngest competitors in her category, secured fifth place in the Under-8 Fastest Kid in the World 55-meter race. Born to Saint Lucian parents in New York, Lorde eagerly took the opportunity to pose for a photo with Alfred, whom she aspires to emulate on her journey to Olympic success.
Talya expresses her pride at the prospect of representing Saint Lucia in the future. During her recent visit to the island earlier this year, she had a brief training session with a local club, which left onlookers enthusiastic about her potential.
Her mother, Rosalva, conveyed to St. Lucia Times the significance of wearing a Saint Lucian uniform for their family: “We are proud Lucians,” she stated. “Saint Lucia is our home, and that’s why it was essential for us to ensure our children are Lucians as well.”
Lorde, a member of the Jeuness Track Club, primarily specializes in the 400m but also competes in the 200m and 800m events. Jeuness, a grassroots club located in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights neighborhoods, was established to empower young girls in track and field while supporting their academic and personal growth.
Last weekend, at the Youth Challenge held at Icahn Stadium, Lorde excelled by winning both of her events and setting facility records in the 400m and 800m. She clocked a time of 1:07.73 in the Under-7 400m, just shy of her personal best, and finished nearly four seconds ahead of the second-place competitor. In the 800m, her impressive time of 2:35.25 not only surpassed her previous best by over 10 seconds but also left the runner-up trailing by nearly 12 seconds.
Talya travels across the United States for competitions, and her mother mentioned that she enjoyed watching the CARIFTA Games on TV during the Easter holidays. She has already achieved qualifying times for this summer’s Junior Olympics, which is her primary focus for the year, and she is excited to compete in the AAU Primary National Championships. As she looks forward to these events, she aims to continue her winning streak.
“She was absolutely radiant with joy,” Rosalva said after Talya's double victory at Icahn. “She mentioned that she’s won all five of her outdoor season races, saying it was five for five. Her goal is to remain undefeated this outdoor season. She only had one second-place finish during the indoor season, so she’s determined to achieve that goal.”
Rosalva acknowledged that managing track and school for her daughters, Talya and Rhea, can be quite challenging. “My life right now revolves around my two girls,” she shared. “Rhea is younger and enjoys tagging along to support her sister. However, I know that once she finds her own interests, I’ll need to figure out how to balance both of their activities.”
Despite the challenges, Rosalva emphasizes the importance of passion. “Talya is passionate about track and doesn’t mind missing some of her friends’ birthday parties,” she explained. “She also loves swimming and tennis, and she participates in those whenever she can. Overall, we’re content with our current situation.”
Talya won't be eligible for international competition for a few more years. However, she could compete for a spot at the North and Central American and Caribbean Under-13 Games within the next three years, with hopes of participating in the CARIFTA Games afterward. For now, the young sprinter is concentrating on excelling at her current level, approaching each season one at a time. With robust support from her family and the Saint Lucian community in New York, she is certainly on the right path.
