The most decorated long-distance runner in St Lucia’s history has finally been honored by the government of St Lucia. Micoud’s Zepherinus Joseph was honored during St Lucia’s 42nd anniversary of Independence. Joseph was granted the St Lucia Les Piton Gold Medal for his contribution to his country. Mr. Zepherinus Joseph was given the honor for having performed long and meritorious service in the field of Sports.

Born 13 August 1975, in Mon Repos, Zepherinus holds the Saint Lucia National Records for every outdoor track and road event from the 1500m to the marathon. Better known as “Knockay” or “Straws”, Zepherinus attended Micoud Secondary School before taking up athletics scholarships at Central Arizona College and University of North Florida, where he studied Building Construction. He was a member of Creation Sports Club in Saint Lucia. Before leaving for Central Arizona College in 1999, Zepherinus had already established himself as the best distance runner St Lucia had ever produced. By the time he got to Arizona on a scholarship sourced by Saint Lucia Pole Vault record-holder Dominic Johnson, “Knockay” was St Lucia’s national champion at 1500m and 5000m, and he held the national records at both distances. In 1998, he had completed the 1500m in 3:57.33 at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Venezuela. In November 2003, Zepherinus won his first OECS NEMWIL Half Marathon title in Basseterre, St Kitts-Nevis. That year, he had also qualified for the men’s Marathon at the 2004 Athens Olympics after running the Twin Cities Marathon in Minnesota.  Zepherinus was the Saint Lucian flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympiad.

Upon his return to Saint Lucia, the community of Mon Repo renamed Coolie Town Road to Knockay Avenue in recognition of his accomplishments. In 2005, Zepherinus took his second OECS title in Antigua-Barbuda. He won again in 2006 in the Commonwealth of Dominica, which earned him his first Sportsman of the Year title in Saint Lucia. Zepherinus won OECS in St Kitts-Nevis again in 2007, and He won on home soil in 2008. In February 2010 Zepherinus was named Saint Lucia’s 2009 Sportsman of the Year, the second time he had taken that title.

Congratulations to the globally recognized athlete. Well Deserved!

Photo:stluciatimes.com