Thousands of Grenadian students to benefit from dental health programme

Professor Wolff demonstrates the
application of the sealant on Dr. Hirsch

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, January 28, 2011 - A total of 26,000 Grenadian students will benefit from a dental programme dubbed “Smile Grenada.’’

The School Dental Health programme is set to be commissioned on February 21 at pre-primary, primary and secondary schools throughout Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

The project management team is made up of Grenadian health officials and dental health experts and educators from the School of Dentistry at New York University (NYU) in the United States.

U.S. members of the team met Thursday, January 27, at a closed-door meeting with senior and middle public health managers and representatives of the Ministry of Education.

Dr. Stuart Hirsch, Vice Dean at NYU School of Dentistry, said he is heartened by the level of commitment and dedication demonstrated by the Minster for Health, Sen. Ann Peters, and other Grenada officials to the programme, which will be implemented over a three-year period. It will include three visits per year.

Dr. Hirsch explained that about two years ago, NYU received an invitation from Minister Peters to consider undertaking a programme that can improve the health status of Grenadian children.

“We felt it was a very good initiative and it was fully supported by Grenadians residing in New York. From that moment we decided that we would undertake two programmes,” he said.

In 2010, an NYU dental team visited Grenada and conducted a dental health clinic in Tivoli, attending to more than 1000 people in one week.                                   

Professor Wolff during one of his
presentations with public health officials
at workshop

About 1100 children were also screened as part of a needs’ assessment survey.

 “The needs of the children were great and we decided that we would return to make a positive and dramatic impact on the health of the children that focuses on preventative health,’’ Dr. Hirsch.

He hopes that regular brushing and tooth-cleaning habits, which form part of proper dental hygiene, will be cultivated and sustained by the students and schools, long after the project is completed.

Following Thursday’s meeting, more than 15 public health nurses, dentists, dental assistants and dental auxiliary support staff participated in a workshop. It focused on proper dental techniques; use of dental fluorides; and the use and application of the new dental sealants that will be exclusively utilised in the project to protect the biting surface of the tooth.

The participants were also given an overview of the data collected in last year’s dental survey.

The project is expected to reduce the level of tooth decay and prevent the onset of decay by about 70% within the next two to three years, said Professor Mark Wolff of NYU.

Under a partnership with Colgate and G.C. America (a company that manufactures dental products), a shipment of 75,000 tooth brushes and toothpaste products, as well as educational material, will be brought into Grenada for the duration of the programme, Professor Wolff said.

SOURCE: Ministry of Health

Grenada Sports Minister calls for regional intervention for CARIFTA Games

Sports Minister Patrick Simmons

by Michael Bascombe

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, January 27, 2011 - Grenada’s Sports Minister Patrick Simmons is calling for regional governments to collectively discuss the situation of this year’s Junior CARIFTA Games.

The annual track and field championships are in danger of being cancelled for the first time in 40 years after original hosts St Kitts and Nevis gave notice late last year that they were unable to stage the games.

Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Bahamas were identified as potential hosts but they all turned down the offer.

Simmons, who coached a number of Grenadian athletes including former world indoor 400m champion Alleyne Francique and triple jumper Randy Lewis, said that the region’s young athletes should not be denied the opportunity to compete among themselves even if it’s a scaled-down version.

He said that regional governments need to intervene urgently noting that there is less than three months left to prepare to stage the games.

“Grenada as chair of CARICOM will initiate discussions with other regional governments to see what can be done to assist in the staging of the games,” he said.

“The CARIFTA Games have provided international exposure for many of our track and field stars including the likes of Debbie Ferguson, Obadele Thompson, Darrel Brown, Usain Bolt and Kirani James”.

He said that there are other possibilities of engaging National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and lottery authorities in the region.

Apart from other logistical issues the Grenadian sports minister said that regional governments, national federations, NOCs, and sponsors need to come together urgently and discuss the future of the track and field championships.

“I have been discussing this with the General Secretary of the Grenada Olympic Committee, Veda Bruno-Victor who also shares a similar passion for regional track and field,” Simmons said.

This year’s Junior CARIFTA Games are scheduled for April 22-24.

Grenada striker could end his career at Lancashire

Jason Roberts

Skysports.com has reported that Blackburn Rovers have opened up talks with Grenadian Jason Roberts about extending his contract.

The 32-year-old had been widely expected to leave the club in the summer when his contract expires.

Roberts had been at loggerheads with previous manager Sam Allardyce who had frozen him out of the team.

Leicester, QPR, Wigan and several foreign teams had expressed an interest in signing the Grenada international this month.

But Rovers' new manager Steve Kean wants to retain the services of the experienced marksman.

Kean is believed to have been particularly impressed with his professionalism during his standoff with Allardyce.

Roberts made a return to the Rovers side as a second-half substitute in the 2-0 win over West Brom on Sunday, following several weeks out with a hamstring injury.

SOURCE: skysports.com

2010 National Sports Awards this weekend

by Michael Bascombe

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, January 26, 2011 – Grenada’s sports personalities for 2010 will be announced at a ceremony at the Grenada Trade Centre on Saturday.

Twenty-three nominees from 14 national associations will be vying for the prestigious awards of sportsman and woman of the year.

The ceremony, beginning at 7:00 p.m., will be held under the patronage of the Governor General, His Excellency Sir Carlyle Glean and Lady Glean.

The nominees include World Junior 400m champion, Kirani James; West Indies cricketer Devon Smith and national footballer Kithson Bain in the male category while the female nominees will be highlighted by the performances of CARIFTA and Caribbean Island Swimming Championships gold medallist, Oreoluwa Cherebin; track athlete, Kanika Beckles and netballer Lottysha Cato.

The junior sportsman and woman, selected by the Ministry of Youth Empowerment and Sports, will also be announced on the night.

Two special awards will also be presented as well as tributes to stalwarts who passed on and contributed immensely towards the development of sports in Grenada.

The guest speaker will be the President of the St Lucia Olympic Committee, Richard Peterkin.

The full list of nominees:

Athletics – Kanika Beckles & Kirani James

Basketball – Christa Stephens & Michael Bonaparte

Bodybuilding – Damion Daniel

Boxing – Chloe Toussaaint & Kandel Dowden

Cricket – Devon Smith

Cycling – Sydney George Walters

Football – Rockel Hood & Kithson Bain

Netball – Lottysha Cato

Swimming – Oreoluwa Cherebin & Nicholas Coard

Taekwondo – Aakeem Whiteman

Table Tennis – Giselle Chetram & Agbi Harford

Tennis – Lois Alexis & Yannik James

Triathlon – Aislinn Noel & Ric Hallam

Volleyball – Latisha Collymore & Adam La Feuille

Airline security searches Grenada PM

PM Tillman Thomas

ST GEORGE'S, Grenada (CMC) — Prime Minister Tillman Thomas has confirmed that he was searched by American Airlines officials at Grenada's Maurice Bishop International Airport before embarking on an official overseas trip.

Thomas broke his silence on the issue after the local media called for a public explanation from American Airlines and an apology to the prime minister.

Prime Minister Thomas told the Caribbean Media Corporation that he had no problems with the search which occurred at the airport's VIP lounge last month.

"It's a complicated matter. It's not something that I could clarify. The Airport Authority would have to clarify it," Prime Minister Thomas said, adding "that he "had no problem with it". It's a procedure. To me it does not make a difference to me".

The incident has caused a major embarrassment to the Grenada Airports Authority which has since written to the Prime Minister apologising for the ordeal, local media has reported.

Numerous calls to American Airlines country manager Gillian Thompson seeking clarification have not been returned.

An editorial in The New Today weekly newspaper has accused the airline of "belittling the Office of Prime Minister" and criticised his security detail for allowing the search to take place.

"I was not really concerned about that. If it ought not to have happened, it should not have happened," Prime Minister Thomas said.

"They should have proper guidelines and procedures but it was not something that I was too worried about".

SOURCE: Jamaica Observer

Free movement through OECS set to take effect

Grenada's PM Tillman Thomas

St. George’s, January 25, 2011 (GIS) – Grenada and other member-nations of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) are eliminating the need for passports to travel to and from each other’s countries.

It’s one of the outcomes of the ratification of the Revised Treaty establishing the OECS Economic Union, which permits free movement of people in the sub-region covering the Windward and Leeward Islands.

Free movement, and a range of other issues relating to the Economic Union, were discussed at the 52^nd Meeting of the OECS Authority in St. George’s on January 24.

Host Prime Minister, Grenada’s Tillman Thomas, said free movement of people throughout the OECS should take effect within a few months.

“We are setting the date of August 1^st of this year. By that date, we expect OECS citizens to be moving in and out OECS states without restrictions, once you have a driver’s licence or I.D. card,’’ Hon. Thomas told reporters at a post-meeting news conference Tuesday.

He was joined at the news conference by Montserrat’s Chief Minister, Reuben Meade, and St. Lucian Prime Minister, Stephenson King.

The leaders acknowledged security concerns associated with free movement of people. But they insisted that implementing unrestricted travel within the sub-region was necessary.

 “We have been talking about freedom of movement in the region for many years but we have not fully effected that,’’ Chief Minister Meade said. “I believe that is something that every member of the OECS would like to see happen; where you can travel from Grenada all the way up to St. Kitts without let or hindrance.’’

Prime Minister King, reflecting on the St. George’s meeting, said that “one of the most significant achievements was the determination of leaders to bring about, truly, free movement of our people throughout the region.’’

“We recognize,’’ he admitted, “the security issues; of the potential of criminals using our islands to move from one island to the other. But, notwithstanding, we also recognize the very important role that our people play in moving the sub-region forward. So we thought that it was necessary to ensure that all of the instruments necessary to provide for the free movement of people through the sub-region are put in place.’’

The St. Lucian leader also revealed that OECS nations are seeking a simplified system to the lengthy immigration forms that airline passengers are required to complete and submit on arrival at each island’s airport.

“The forms that we often have to fill out are long as one can ever imagine with questions that sometimes, I  personally believe, are irrelevant,’’ Prime Minister King said.

The hope is either to shorten the form or develop a regional database of information that would allow passengers travelling through airports to do so “without delaying the process,’’ said King.

Kirani James named Runner of Week

James currently owns the
fastest 200m time
in the world this year.

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama, January 25, 2011 - Alabama men’s track and field student-athletes Kirani James and Kamal Fuller garnered weekly awards from the Southeastern Conference as James was named the league’s Runner of the Week while Fuller was tabbed the Freshman of the Week.

James ran the fastest 200m time in the world this year on Friday at the Cherry & Silver Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M. The first-place time of 20.58 time automatically qualified James for the NCAA Indoor Championships and bested an eight-year-old Alabama school record by 0.13. It also shattered the track record and is the fastest NCAA time in more than two seasons.

Fuller, a newcomer to the UA track and field squad, had an impressive showing in the long jump at the Cherry & Silver Invitational. The freshman took top honors with a personal best jump of 24-9, the 15th best jump in the nation this season. On the track he posted a personal best 8.10 to finish third in the event.

Both James and Fuller will join their teammates on the men’s squad in heading to South Bend, Ind., for the Meyo Invitational hosted by the University of Notre Dame, February 4-5.
SOURCE: University of Alabama

ACM STATEMENT ON THE IMPENDING CLOSURE OF THE BBC CARIBBEAN SERVICE

January 25, 2011 - The Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM) is saddened by the announcement by the British Broadcasting Corporation that its popular Caribbean Service is to be closed.

The ACM wishes to pay tribute to the West Indian men and women and their British counterparts who strove for more than 40 years, and more recently, in more than 15 years of unbroken service to present a balanced, comprehensive and intelligent picture of life in the Caribbean. The Caribbean Service has also been an invaluable source of insightful analyses and commentaries on the effect of world economics and politics on the region.

While the BBC has created several incarnations of the BBC Caribbean Service going back to the Second World War, the ACM honours the contribution of the late Hugh Crosskill, who as editor of the modern Caribbean Service shaped the unit into a significant source of regional radio news. We pay special tribute to the fine work of his long-standing successor, Debbie Ransome, a veteran journalist who increased the Caribbean Service's output and made it an essential part of radio listening diets across the region.

The Caribbean Service's journalists and producers deserve the highest commendation. They also deserve the unequivocal assurance that their names - household names for thousands of Caribbean people - will not be lost to regional broadcasting. The ACM believes that this is an opportunity for bold, collective action by Caribbean media owners and managers to ensure that the careers of men and women who contributed significantly to regional information and understanding can continue.

It is in this regard that the ACM calls on the Caribbean Media Corporation and the Caribbean Broadcasting Union, whose mandates and functions mirror that of the Caribbean Service, to move immediately to create a viable alternative. The CMC, especially, which has inherited the Caribbean News Agency (CANA), a trusted and independent organisation that gave so many of the BBC Caribbean staff their start, must now seize the opportunity to ensure that the region does not skip a beat in making the transition from a London-based Caribbean news organisation to a Caribbean-based news agency.

While the ACM applauds the sterling work of its colleagues in London, it has long believed that only a truly Caribbean institution that is to the region what the BBC has been to the world can be a vital part of the communications mix in a Caribbean single economy and a Caribbean single marketplace of ideas.

The Caribbean needs a distinctive service of high quality news and information that is collected, distilled and explained by some of its veteran journalists, not a hodge-podge of duplicated copy from national media houses.

Let it not be said that in a moment of adversity, the Caribbean media failed to shed considerations of parochialism and profit to create a trustworthy source of Caribbean news and information. 

It would be a sad commentary on the fruit of regional independence and integration and the greatest possible disservice to the people of this region if the Caribbean broadcast media, who do possess the resources, lack the will to do what the moment demands of them.

SOURCE: Association of Caribbean Media Workers

Ondeck Onboard for Grenada Sailing Festival 2011

Global yacht charter, training and events company Ondeck have confirmed entry of one of their fleet of magnificent Farr 65 ocean racing yachts for the 2011 Grenada Sailing Festival, which will run from its Home Port and Race HQ at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina from Friday 28 January to Tuesday 1 February. Spirit of Juno is sailing to join the Festival direct from Barbados, where she has just taken part in the new prestigious Mount Gay Rum Round Barbados Race, winning the much sought after title of ‘Fastest Monohull’.

Ondeck have a reputation for providing some of the most exciting and friendly sailing experiences at all of the major Caribbean regattas, as well as giving sailors and non sailors the chance to participate in Trans-Atlantic sailing, as well as major race events in the UK and the USA, with Royal Yachting Association bases in the UK, Portugal and Antigua. Grenada Sailing Festival organisers are pleased to welcome Ondeck to the event, and look forward to working with the company to bring a bigger fleet of these high performance yachts to the event in the future.

Final preparations are now being made for the event, From entries received to date, event organisers look forward to welcoming a high proportion of new visiting yachts, skippers and crews, including an all-female crew from Cowes, Isle of Wight – the home of sailing in the UK. The Racing Classes will also cover a wide range of yacht types, designs and skills – from competitive racers to cruisers and charters, plus this year for the first time, a traditional Sloop, built in Windward on the sister island of Carriacou.

Once again the Grenada Sailing Festival will be characterised by a great mix of competitive sailing, followed by fun parties and entertainment based at the newly built Victory Bar at Port Louis Marina. There will also be a chance for new entrants to enjoy another one of Grenada’s attractive waterside venues, with a party at the Dodgy Dock, True Blue Bay Resort. 

The 2011 Festival will again offer two week-ends of exciting sailing, with the traditional Grenada Sailing Festival Digicel Work Boat Regatta taking place on Grand Anse Beach on the following week-end 5 & 6 February, as a central part of the island’s National Independence Celebrations. The all-action competition on the water between the sailing communities will be matched on the beach with Beach Aerobics, a Fitness Challenge and Strong Man competition courtesy of Body & Soul Gym, as well as the ever popular Bungee Run with Horizon Yacht Charters and Fun Five Aside Football sponsored by Courts. There will be something for everyone, so make sure to get to Grand Anse beach and join in the Independence week-end celebrations.

The Grenada Sailing Festival wishes to thank its sponsors and supporters: the Grenada Board of Tourism; Camper & Nicholsons Marinas; Digicel; United Insurance; FLOW; ScotiaBank; Mount Gay Rum & Heineken with their agent Bryden & Minors; Budget Marine; True Blue Bay Resort; The Moorings; North South Wines; The Victory Bar & Restaurant; Coca Cola; SOL EC Ltd.; American Airlines; British Airways; The Moorings; Island Dreams Yacht Services; Horizon Yacht Charters; Independence Agencies; Turbulence Ltd; Court’s; Deyna’s Tasty Foods; Grenada Electrical Contractors; Southern Electrical; Steele’s Auto Supplies; Grenlec and Glenelg Spring Water.

SOURCE: Grenada Sailing Festival

Olympia Fields couple to put eye care in focus in Grenada

by JESSICA SABBAH Correspondent Jan 24, 2011

Dr. Sol Tannebaum may be in store for some warmer weather while he’s in Grenada this week, but he won’t be on a vacation.

The Olympia Fields resident will make his 16th mission trip volunteering his services as an optometrist to people in need.

“People have eye problems wherever you go, all over the world,” Tannebaum said. “All countries have poverty areas where eyesight is not cared for. These are people who don’t have good care or bad care. They have no care.”

Along with 19 other volunteers, Sol Tannebaum and his wife, Marilynn, will work from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 21-30 seeing about 200 patients a day as volunteers with Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity. Since 1971, VOSH has provided eye care worldwide to those who either don’t have access or can’t afford it.

Anyone can volunteer to help VOSH’s mission.

This will be Marilynn Tannebaum’s 14th mission trip working primarily on intake and getting medical histories. She is a retired teacher and administrator in Park Forest-Chicago Heights School District 163, where she worked for more than 34 years.

“It’s a wonderful experience,” Tannebaum said. “You get more than you give. The people are very appreciative, and you see people living in poverty situations that just would not have eye care if you were not there, so I do what I can to help.”

As an educator, Tannebaum especially has enjoyed working with children during the mission trips. A highlight for her involved an 8-year-old boy who was brought into the clinic who was thought to have a mental disability. A local convent school wouldn’t take him because of the condition.

It turned out he just needed glasses.

The couple have traveled to a number of countries around the world, including Mexico, Ecuador, El Salvador and Poland, throughout the 20 years since becoming members of VOSH Illinois.

The volunteers must pay their own way for each trip.

Sol Tannebaum works as an optometrist in Calumet City. He previously had his own practice in Olympia Fields for 21 years.

Sol Tannebaum’s most memorable experience as a volunteer involved a woman who was thought to be blind since birth.

After examining her, he found that she wasn’t blind but actually needed a -30 diopter lens. Because there wasn’t a -30 lens in stock, Sol fashioned three -10 lenses together and when she put the glasses on, she yelled, “I can see, I can see.”

“You’re giving back what you’ve taken really all your life and that’s what life is all about, you’ve got to give back,” Sol Tannebaum said.

Mel and Janet Muchnik, Park Forest residents and friends of the Tannebaums, also will volunteer their time in Grenada.

This will be Mel Muchnik’s second trip. He traveled last year to Bolivia.

It will be Janet Muchnik’s first trip.

Mel Muchnik, a retired professor and administrator at Governors State University, got involved with VOSH’s efforts through Sol Tannebaum. His favorite part of the process was seeing people’s smiles once they put on their glasses.

“You see them put those glasses on, and suddenly they are seeing the world clearly for the first time,” Mel Muchnik said.

SOURCE: SouthTown Star

Another Marathon Milestone for REACH Grenada!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Another Marathon Milestone for REACH Grenada!

New York, NY, USA – January 24, 2011 – Team REACH Grenada celebrates its outstanding fundraising success in the ING New York City Marathon for the second year in a row!  On 7^th November 2010 the team not only crossed the world famous finish line but also smashed projected fundraising targets to raise an impressive $90,000 in sponsorship, from nearly 700 donors, for charity REACH Grenada.  One hundred percent of the proceeds will support REACH Grenada’s therapeutic programs benefiting children in residential care in Grenada.

Mr Neo Moreton, Executive Director of the charity and Team Captain comments:

"I am so proud of our runners for their commitment to supporting our mission, persevering through 26.2 miles, and helping us exceed our target by over $15,000. In all ways, our participation in the ING NYC Marathon has been a runaway success and certainly paves the way for future fundraising!”

This year’s REACH Grenada team consisted of 25 runners including representatives from Canada, USA and France and 8 representatives from St George’s University, Grenada.  Sporting their REACH Grenada T-shirts with pride and driven by a shared goal to raise money to help children in Grenada, the team focused on the challenge ahead and ran determinedly through 5 boroughs of New York, all lined with huge cheering spectators and supporters, to cross the finish line.  Team REACH Grenada member Christine Czuba commented: "What a fun day ... what an amazing experience ... what tired feet I have!  It was great to meet everyone and really understand the reason beyond Reach Grenada.  I sure wore my t-shirt proudly during the entire race."

REACH Grenada’s aim to establish a longstanding tradition of marathon participation and an ongoing source of sponsorship to fund a wide range of ongoing projects that are helping vulnerable and disadvantaged children in Grenada is clearly on the road to being fulfilled.  Participation in this year’s special event has already inspired many of the 2010 team runners to sign up for next year’s ING NYC marathon as team member Jay Greenbaum comments:

"[The marathon] was amazing.  Congrats on a great fundraiser which is now an official tradition for me!  Can’t wait until next year!"

The members of Team REACH Grenada and special guest, Joe “Country” Greenidge, attended a pre-marathon pasta party hosted by Dr Karen Lawson, co-Founder of REACH Grenada and six-time marathon runner. Event sponsors included: Reach Grenada, Julien Farel Salon, Karma Kids Yoga, Gnosis Chocolate, Sensible Sitters and the Queen Elizabeth Home of Tempe.

The ING New York City Marathon continues to grow in popularity year upon year.  A massive 44,829 runners, representing 111 different countries completed the race this year raising a colossal $30 million for 8,200 charities including REACH Grenada.

REACH Grenada aims to recruit 50 runners for next year’s race and raise over $125,000.  If you or somebody you know is interested in running with Team REACH Grenada in 2011, please email jared@reachgrenada.org.

About REACH Grenada

REACH Grenada’s mission is to improve the well-being of Grenada’s most vulnerable children.  It is a program created by the Bartholomew J. Lawson Foundation for Children, a New York-based, privately operating non-profit 501(c)(3) foundation, established in 2003 by Dr. Karen Lawson in memory of her husband Bart Lawson who passed away in Grenada during his tenure there as Ambassador.  The foundation supports REACH Grenada in the spirit of continuing his good work.

Contact:

Mr. Jared Goodman

- Director of Operations -

REACH Grenada

575 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor

New York, NY 10022, USA

Email: jared@reachgrenada.org

Phone: + 1 (212) 605 0281

Website: www.reachgrenada.org

James posts world leading 200m

NEW YORK, January 23, 2011 – Grenadians Kirani James and Rondell Bartholomew are among world leaders in the 2011 Indoor Season, according to the International Associations of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

James heads the men’s 200 metres list with a world-leading 20.58 seconds at the Cherry & Silver Invitational on Friday in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Grenadian speedster, sophomore at the University of Alabama, also set a school record and automatically qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships.

Bartholomew’s South Plains College ran fastest 4x400 metres relay time so far this season. The quartet of Bartholomew, Anton Kokorin, Isaiah Gill and Bralon Taplin clocked 3:05.18 at the Texas Tech Invitational on Saturday.

The time is a new NJCAA record and also the fastest recorded in the world so far this year.

Good weekend results for Grenadian athletes

NEW YORK, January 23, 2011 - Grenadian Kirani James set a school (University of Alabama) record and automatically qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships with a time of 20.58 in the 200m at the Cherry & Silver Invitational Friday evening in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

James' time is the fastest in the U.S. this season and set an Albuquerque Convention Center record by 0.16 seconds and bested the previous UA record of 20.71 set by Latonel Williams in 2003. Last season, James had an indoor best of 20.94.

Over in Texas, Grenadians Janelle Redhead and Rondell Bartholomew were stand-outs for South Plains College at the Texas Tech Invitational this weekend.

The quartet of Janeil Bellille, Jura Levy, Sparkle McKnight, and Janelle Redhead made a mockery of the women's 4x400 meter relay record that was set just last week and just missed a facility record when Redhead ran down Texas Tech's anchor to claim the victory in 3:37.49.

The final race of the night featured a highly anticipated matchup between the Texan and Red Raider men's 4x400 meter relay teams that just about lived up to its billing. Sophomore Anton Kokorin led the Texans off against former Texan and current Red Raider, Bryce Brown.

Both teams received great lead off legs and Kokorin handed off to Isaiah Gill who had what might have been the unperceivable task of running with former United States 400 meter runner-up, Gil Roberts.

Gill gave Roberts all he could handle and handed off to freshman Bralon Taplin who put Texan anchorman Rondell Bartholomew only a couple strides behind another former Texan, Latoy Williams. After one lap, Bartholomew made a move to pass Williams and went on to run through the finish line in a new NJCAA record time of 3:05.18. The time also betters the facility record set in 2005. Currently, no team from the NCAA division one level has run faster.

In the women's 400 meter dash, SPC athletes finished 3^rd-4^th-5^th, led by Amoy Blake's 56.88 second finishing time. Janelle Redhead, who set the school record in the event last week, crossed the line in 56.90 seconds. Shona-Gaye Tracey (57.30) was fifth.

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Grenadian swimmer sets targets

Like Kirani James, Rondell Bartholomew and others who are blazing the trails of international stardom at a very young age, we must keep tabs on this little swimming sensation, who only turned 13 last month, but is already ‘’splashing’’ her way to major achievements.

Oreoluwa Zoe Cherebin

Grenada Amateur Swimming Association has announced Oréoluwa Zoe Cherebin as their top female swimmer of 2010.

Twelve year-old Oréoluwa was born 24th December 1997 and is currently a form two student of St. Joseph's Convent St. George's. She is described as a brilliant student who is among the top students of her class. Oréoluwa is a passionate swimmer, who has a fun loving personality and is very active in her school life. She participates in Girl Guides, Dancing, Debate Club and Chess Club. She also hopes to join pan.

When not training for competition she participates in netball and the Jason Roberts Football Camp.

Oré oluwa grew up around the Good Hope Pool and at the tender age of two made her debut in swimming when she fell into the pool and was immediately enrolled with a Club. She is a disciplined swimmer who juggles home assignments at nights, after training at the Pool for about three hours after school, five to six days a week.

Oréoluwa dreams for the future are to keep improving on times, to always do her personal best, to be an honour student, to represent her country at the Olympics one day and finally to attain a scholarship to become a successful Dental Surgeon.

Achievements:
2006: Oreoluwa first represented her country in St. Lucia at the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Championships in the eight and under girls’ category with a brilliant performance in the 25m breaststroke.

2007: Represented her Club Grenfin at St. Lucia and Barbados Invitational Meets, again performing well in the 25m and 50m breaststroke.

2008: Local age group Champion in these various Meets, Alpha Junior School Meet, National Inter-Primary School Swim Meet and Grenfin's Invitational Meet. Gold medallist in the 400m and 800m cycle race at Alpha Junior annual Sports Meet and also medalled in the 200m and 400m races. She accomplished her first Cross Harbour Swim placing third in her age group. She ended the year in St. Lucia at OECS bringing home gold in all her breaststroke taking second place overall.

2009-2010 was a fantastic period for Oreoluwa.

2009 started with her being the age group and overall champion at her school annual Swim Meet taking all gold in every stroke.  In March 2009 she placed second in her age group in the annual Cross Harbour Swim. In March 2010 at Annual Cross Harbour she placed 1st in her age group and fifth overall in the women's finishing under one hour. She travelled to Gouyave and came first in the Gouyave Open Water Swim.

In April 2009 she travelled to RACH Meet in St. Lucia and placed third overall trophy with medals in the followings, 2gold in the 50m and 100m breaststroke, one silver and five bronze medals in the other strokes. She did all this, while preparing for Common Entrance examination.

In May 2009 and 2010 she again took part in the Grenada Annual Triathlon spearheading her team to first place in their age group for a third year.  She placed second in the 800m open, water swim female. She wrote the 2009 Common entrance placing first in her school and seventh place nationally. After this she participated in her school's annual sports, running the 100m, 200m 400m and 800m successfully ending up with two gold medals in the 400m and 800m cycle races with some exciting rides.

In June 2009 she represented her school, in the First Caribbean Inter - Primary National Swim meet, taking gold in all strokes, age group trophy and overall female champion. The month ended with Ore `oluwa, helping her school Alpha Junior to victory in the annual in the National inter Primary Private School Sports.

She completed her primary school year in August 2009, by representing Grenada at the Goodwill Swim Championship in Barbados. She was the only Grenadian to medalled achieving silver in the 50m breaststroke 38.02 and bronze in the 100m breaststroke 1.27.09. Oreoluwa started the new term with gold and silver medals in Grenfin's Invitational Meet, again being the age group champion. In November at the OECS Championship in Grenada, she helped the national team in by placing second overall in her age group with 10 medals, three gold, four silver and three bronze and a national record.

In December 2009, she swam for her new school St. Joseph's Convent at the Inter- Secondary School Meet and place first in her age group with gold and silver medals.  Later that month she travelled to Trinidad for their annual Invitational Meet and medalled with gold and silver in the 50m breast and 100m respectively and placed 5th in the 200m breast.

After qualifying for CARIFTA, she attended the Barbados Long Course in February 2010, to bring home gold and silver in the 50m and 100m breaststroke and finished with an amazing CARIFTA qualifying time in the 200m breaststroke dropping 20 seconds.

She went off to CARIFTA in Jamaica and did an outstanding performance in the 50m breast getting gold for Grenada with 38.25 and placing 5th in the 100m breast with 1.27.61 and 7th in the 200m breast 3.11.86. National pride was felt when Grenada's national anthem was played.

In May 2010, she attended Barbados Invitational with another stunning performance, gold in the 50m breast silver in the 100mbreast 4th in the 400 freestyle two 5th places in the 50m back and 50m fly strokes.

In June, the Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships (CISC) in Cuba was another exciting event for Oreoluwa, winning against Cuba with a golden time in the 50m breast of 37.42  and silver in 100m breast  1.23.65  another personal best and finishing this off with fifth place in the 200m breast 3.07 setting personal best times and national records.

At the Grenfin's invitational she set three national records in the 50m breast, 100m breast and the 200m IM, rounding this off with ten gold medals and her age group trophy.

Oreoluwa has set her mind on qualifying for CARIFTA, Central American and Caribbean Amateur Swimming Confederation (CCCAN) and any other Meets she can qualify for while still being among the top students in her grade. Her dream for summer 2011 is to be able to train at a Swim Camp in Florida, to enhance her performance.