Government ponders reward for history-making Spencer

CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC – Sports Minister Fortuna Belrose says government is mulling over an appropriate reward for jumper Levern Spencer, who won the country’s first-ever gold medal at the Commonweath Games in Australia last weekend.

Belrose said Spencer’s achievement had been a significant one for the country, communicating to the next generation of athletes the values that were necessary for international success.

She told reporters here Monday government would decide on a reward for Spencer shortly.

“For young people in this country, that’s the message we want to communicate; it takes time but if you work at it, if you stick to it, you can achieve the goals,” Belrose said.

“And sport is really a great tool to demonstrate to young people, how best they can stay focused on their goals and realise it.”

Spencer cleared a season-best 1.95 metres to win the women’s high jump and end the country’s 56-year wait for a Commonwealth Games gold medal.

With her performance, she forced England’s Morgan Lake (1.93) and Australian Nicola McDermott (1.91) into the runners-up positions.

Spencer also won gold at the Pan American Games three years ago in Toronto.

Belrose said such was the nature of the achievement that the entire country needed to show its appreciation when Spencer returned.

“To be honest with you when she won that medal I didn’t sleep for 24 hours,” Belrose revealed.

“For our country, she’s made us tremendously proud, significantly proud and I think it’s something that everybody should celebrate and when she arrives here, we all should actually go out and meet her.”

Spencer had reached the podium in the two previous Commonwealth Games, claiming bronze in Delhi 2010 and again in Glasgow four years later.