Grenada's Francique retires

(Pace Management release)

Two times World Indoor 400m Champion Alleyne Francique (Grenada) has announced his retirement from competitive athletics. Last week it was announced that Francique has been hired as Assistant Coach at Texas A&M University, working under his former coach and mentor Pat Henry.

"As a professional athlete I have always been aware that the time would come for me to begin another chapter of my life," Francique said. "That time has come and I look forward to the exciting challenges that lay ahead. To be able to remain associated with Coach Henry for this period of time and now to be part of his coaching staff is a great honor."

Thirty-two year old Francique has been one of the world's top 400m runners for the past seven years. He won gold medals in the 2004 & 2006 IAAF World Indoor T&F Championships, silver in the 2006 Commonwealth Games, and bronze in the 2003 Pan-Am Games, was a finallist in the 2001 and 2003 IAAF World T&F Championships and has qualified for the IAAF World Athletics Final five times.

He was ranked No.1 in the IAAF World Rankings for 48 weeks going into the 2004 Olympic Games where he finished 4th, running 44.66 secs, the fastest 400m time ever from lane 8.

As a student at LSU University he won the 2002 NCAA Indoor Championships and was part of the 4x400m team that won the NCAA Outdoor title the same year. Long time manager, Ricky Simms from PACE Sports Management summed up Francique's career, "Francique was one of the nicest athletes that I have had the pleasure to work with and we will remain close friends in the future.

2004 was his best year with wins in the Grand Prix meetings in London, Stockholm, Lausanne, Madrid, Osaka, Athens and Mexico; a PB 44.47 and just missed a medal with 4th place in the Olympic Games. He represented his country with pride for 13 years and was a popular figure among his fellow athletes all over the world".

Francique was awarded an OBE for 'services to sport' in 2005, is a multiple winner of the Grendan Sportsman of the Year and is currently an 'Ambassador for Sport' for the Spice Island.