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Age is just a number: UWI St. Augustine Remembers Sportswoman Lynette “Granny” Luces

For Release Upon Receipt - February 18, 2021

St. Augustine


The UWI community pays tribute to veteran long distance runner Lynette “Granny” Luces, who passed away today, February 18, at the age of 93. Luces was a long-standing supporter and participant at The UWI SPEC International Half-Marathon. For many years, she dominated the Over 70 and Over 80 categories alongside Charles Spooner, who passed away in May 2015 at age 91. 

For over 16 years, The UWI SPEC International Half-Marathon has promoted health and fitness, competition and camaraderie among a wide spectrum of citizens from age 15 to persons in their 80s. At the 2009 race, Luces was honoured with a lifetime achievement award and was presented with a gift of a painting of her portrait from the Campus by staff member and artist Johann Bennett. The painting sought to capture the intensity of the veteran sportswoman in action.

Speaking on her passing, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal, Professor Brian Copeland shared fond memories of his interactions with Luces over the years at the International Half-Marathon. “Granny Luces was an affable woman; she was passionate about her craft and her joie de vivre was infectious. She consistently proved that age is just a number. On behalf of the St Augustine Campus of The University of the West Indies, I extend heartfelt condolences to her family,” he said. 

Head of the Academy of Sport at UWI St. Augustine, Professor Funso Aiyejina echoed the Campus Principal’s sentiments, noting that “You could not speak of long-distance racing nationally without a mention of her larger-than-life personality and impact. She has challenged and defied the assumptions of ageism and inspired generations of long-distance runners and will truly be missed.” 

First Citizens, presenting sponsor of The UWI SPEC International Half-Marathon, salutes Granny Luces for her accomplishments over the years and for being a part of the most anticipated long distance race in the country, the UWI SPEC Half Marathon. She will forever be remembered as a true gem who always received rapturous applause at the finish line for bringing her unique and exuberant style to road racing. She has inspired many lives with her extraordinary performance and determination.

The UWI community extends heartfelt condolences to Granny Luces’ family, friends and fans.

 

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Photos:

At the 2009 UWI SPEC International Half-Marathon, Lynette “Granny” Lucess was honoured with a lifetime achievement award and was presented with a gift of a painting of her portrait from the Campus by staff member and artist Johann Bennett. The painting sought to capture the intensity of the veteran sportswoman in action.

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About The UWI

For more than 70 years The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has provided service and leadership to the Caribbean region and wider world. The UWI evolved from a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948 to an internationally respected, regional university with near 50,000 students across five campuses: Cave Hill in Barbados; Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda; Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago; and an Open Campus. Times Higher Education has ranked The UWI among the top 1,258 universities in world for 2019, and the 40 best universities in its Latin America Rankings for 2018 and 2019. The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists.

As part of its robust globalization agenda, The UWI has established partnering centres with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, and Africa including the State University of New York (SUNY)-UWI Center for Leadership and Sustainable Development; the Canada-Caribbean Studies Institute with Brock University; the Strategic Alliance for Hemispheric Development with Universidad de los Andes (UNIANDES); The UWI-China Institute of Information Technology, the University of Lagos (UNILAG)-UWI Institute of African and Diaspora Studies and the Institute for Global African Affairs with the University of Johannesburg (UJ). The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Food & Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities & Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science & Technology, Social Sciences and Sport. As the region’s premier research academy, The UWI’s foremost objective is driving the growth and development of the regional economy. For more, visit www.uwi.edu.

 

(Please note that the proper name of the university is The University of the West Indies, inclusive of “The”)

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