The National Sports Council Must Reclaim Its Voice and Its Vision

Commentary 

by Michael Bascombe

In a period when Grenadian sport is poised for major transformation, the silence from the National Sports Council (NSC) and its Parish Sports Councils (PSCs) has become glaring. This silence is not merely administrative—it is a missed opportunity to shape, guide, and energise a sporting nation that is undergoing historic change.

Over the past several months, the Government of Grenada has rolled out significant infrastructural and capacity-building initiatives: the long-anticipated lighting of Progress Park, improvements to the Telescope Playing Field, the start of work to light the National Cricket Stadium, and preparations for a string of major regional and international competitions. Yet the agencies legally mandated to champion community sport, nurture development pathways, and mobilise grassroots engagement have remained noticeably absent from public discourse.

This must change.

The NSC’s central role is to develop, promote, and coordinate sport nationwide. Its Parish Sports Councils serve as the boots on the ground—engaging communities, identifying talent, maintaining facilities, and cultivating the next generation of athletes, coaches, and administrators. At a time like this, their involvement is not optional; it is essential.

Within the span of a single month, Grenada has hosted or is hosting high-profile events:

The OECS Table Tennis Championships, the recent Secondary Schools’ Football Tournament, the ongoing Waggy T  Super Knock-Out Football Tournament, and the West Indies vs England Under-19 cricket series at the National Stadium are among the sporting activities.

These are not merely competitions—they are moments to inspire, mobilise supporters, and signal Grenada’s readiness for bigger things ahead, including CARIFTA Games 2026. The NSC should lead public engagement, coordinate parish outreach, support logistics, and drive attendance. Instead, there has been silence.

During the recent TalkSports programme, an overwhelming number of viewers expressed support for establishing a national sports archive. This speaks to a deep hunger for recognition and memory in Grenadian sport. Too many stories have already faded. Too many achievements, struggles, and community contributions remain undocumented.

Former national cricketer, footballer, and coach Ali Debellotte made a powerful suggestion: that each Parish Sports Council should take responsibility for documenting, compiling, and safeguarding the sporting history of its parish. This is precisely the kind of grassroots-driven, community-preserving initiative the NSC should be championing.

We know the names of our recent giants—Alleyne Francique, Kirani James, Lindon Victor, and Anderson Peters. But what of the generations before them?

What of the trailblazers who wore the national colours in an era with no social media, little financial support, and limited global visibility? What of the women whose contributions remain almost entirely undocumented?

What of the home-grown coaches, administrators, and community champions who built the foundations of sport in River Road, Victoria, Gouyave, St David’s, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique?

Without deliberate action, these stories will be lost forever.

Documenting our history is not an exercise in nostalgia—it is a necessary pillar of national development.

A national sports archive ensures that our heroes are remembered, celebrated, and understood. It allows future generations to know where we came from and what we have overcome. Every parish has its legends—players, coaches, teams, rivalries, and community tournaments. Recording these stories strengthens social bonds and deepens local pride.

Understanding our historical achievements helps identify what worked, what didn’t, and where our athlete pipelines have succeeded and failed. Sports development requires institutional memory. Without documentation, each generation is forced to start from scratch. That weakens the system.

A curated sporting archive—physical and digital—can become a powerful attraction for diaspora, researchers, and young athletes. It builds the narrative of a proud sporting nation.

The NSC and its Parish Sports Councils are uniquely positioned to assume this historic responsibility. Their mandate and geographic reach allow them to conduct parish-level interviews with former athletes and administrators and to archive photographs, newspapers, medals, trophies, and memorabilia. It also hosts community “memory days” and oral-history sessions, catalogues sporting facilities and their evolution over time, and partners with schools, clubs, and local historians. It can also collaborate with media professionals and archivists to digitise records.

This is not a luxury project—it is nation-building.

As Grenada continues to invest in infrastructure, talent development, and international hosting, we must also invest in our story. The NSC must find its voice again. The PSCs must re-engage their communities. And together, they must ensure that the soul of Grenadian sport—its history, its people, and its identity—is preserved for generations.

Silence cannot continue when the future is calling.

Grenada Government seeks partnership for High Performance Centre

Sports Minister Patrick Simmons

By Michael Bascombe

ST GEORGE’S, June 24, 2012 - The Grenada Government is considering a programme to develop and harness the talents of young athletes at home.

The Cabinet this week gave permission to Youth Empowerment and Sports Minister Patrick Simmons to engage the St George’s University (SGU) to develop a home-grown academic programme for athletes, especially those who are completing Secondary Schools.

“It’s embryonic and will have inputs from key stakeholders including SGU and some national federations,” the Minister said.

The intervention by government is in light of the limited availability of sports scholarships especially in the United States.

“The possibilities for scholarships at Junior Colleges in the United States are becoming fewer and starting later this year stricter roster limits the chances of athletes,” Simmons said.

The Minister is referring to a decision taken by the Board of Directors of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) to hold the number of non-U.S. players at no more than one-fourth of a team’s allotment of scholarship players. It means that potential scholarship seekers from Grenada particularly in basketball, football and track would be affected when the new measure takes effect in August.

The proposed programme has been welcomed by two of Grenada’s leading coaches. Former two-time world indoor 400m champion Alleyne Francique and current national track and field coach Albert Joseph have endorsed the plan to develop a home-grown programme.

Both Francique and Joseph, who were in Trinidad this weekend to see the Grenadian athletes at the Trinidad and Tobago National Championships, believe that the programme will ensure that the many talented athletes could benefit from a tertiary education as well as training from the island’s experienced coaches.

“This is welcomed news and I hope that the plan is acted upon immediately,” said Francique, who was at the Hasely Crawford Stadium to see three of his athletes from Texas A&M University including Grenada’s Kanika Beckles.

“All that is needed now is a high performance training centre which could include a six-lane track and we are good to go. There are qualified coaches on the island,” he said.

“We have personnel with the technical knowledge to produce world class athletes,” said Joseph, who will be team coach for Grenada’s track and field athletes at the Olympic Games in London.

“The islands with their home-grown programmes tend to do much better in international competitions,” he said in making reference to St Kitts and Nevis.

Suriname recently launched its Regional Sports Academy and National Olympic Committees of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States have agreed to an OECS Olympic Sports Academy.

“Through our joint efforts, before long, we may add a new hero to the list of Caribbean top athletes trained and polished in our own Regional Sports Academy,” said Desire Bouterse, President of Suriname about the state-of-the-art facility to provide further training in the area of Sport for Development, as well as elite athlete development.

Grenada’s sprinters hoping grass training brings first Olympic medals

Photo illustration of Grenada's medal hopefuls

by Scott Cacciola – The Wall Street Journal

At Olympic competitions, the reigning world champion typically faces gold-medal expectations. But Kirani James, world champion in the 400-meter sprint, needs only to win a bronze medal in London this summer to ignite what would be the most spirited sports celebration in the history of his homeland, the Caribbean island of Grenada.

Since launching its first Olympic team at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, Grenada has never won an Olympic medal, coming closest in 2004 when Alleyne Francique finished fourth in the men's 400 meters in Athens. This year, Grenada boasts not only the world champion 400-meter sprinter; it's also sending to the Games a runner who last year posted the third-fastest time in the event.

How a nation of 110,000—roughly the equivalent of Peoria, Ill.,—produced two world-class 400-meter sprinters is a mystery. But many in Grenadian running circles point to the same factor: a cultural tradition of training on grass. This training method, which is now being widely praised, was actually foisted on the country's current Olympians by accident: When Hurricane Ivan struck the island in 2004, it destroyed its only synthetic track, leaving its young athletes with little choice. "Running on grass makes you stronger," said Francique, the retired Olympian who now coaches track at Texas A&M.

Of the world's 204 countries, about 80 have never won an Olympic medal. The medal-less hail from Asia (Cambodia), Africa (Liberia), the Middle East (Jordan), Europe (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Central and South America (El Salvador and Bolivia).

But each Summer Games, four or five countries usually reach the podium for the first time, and this year no nation is better positioned to do that than Grenada, a country best known for exporting nutmeg.

Grenada's hopes for 2012 can be traced in large part to its moment of near-glory at the 2004 Games in Athens. By finishing fourth there, Francique inspired runners all across Grenada. Further deepening his influence, he won the indoor 400-meter world championships in 2004 and 2006.

Watching Francique represent Grenada in 2004 were two young countrymen: James, now 19, and Rondell Bartholomew, 22. James, who was 11 years old at the time, said he can still remember watching Francique's 400-meter final on television with his family and being totally transfixed. "He gave us the belief that we could compete," James said.

It wasn't only in honor of Francique that James and Bartholomew gravitated toward the 400. As in Jamaica and other Caribbean ports, sprinting is a popular pastime in Grenada—but James and Bartholomew explained that it's nearly impossible to post blazing 100- or 200-meter times on grass, which is too slippery from the starting blocks.

James and Bartholomew grew up in different parts of Grenada and didn't even meet until a few years ago. After attending different U.S. colleges, they rarely cross paths even now. James has an endorsement deal with Nike, Bartholomew with Adidas.

But something they shared growing up was a plush, green training environment. Bartholomew said he also spent countless hours sprinting on soft sand under the direction of his former Grenadian coach Neville Glean. "He really believed in that stuff," said Bartholomew, who now lives and trains in Levelland, Texas, where he attended South Plains College. He still devotes most of his preseason training to grass and builds up only gradually on a synthetic track, where he said, "You have to be really careful you don't get shin splints."

At Texas A&M, Francique is exporting his Grenadian philosophy. Several days a week, he directs his sprinters away from the track and onto playing fields for their workouts. He estimates that his athletes spend up to 75% of their time training this way. "The track will beat you up," he said. It's worth noting that Texas A&M has won three of the last four national men's outdoor track-and-field team titles.

Whether training on a soft surface like grass actually improves performance is unclear, said Dr. Reed Ferber, a professor of kinesiology at the University of Calgary. Ferber, who directs a running-injury clinic, said there has been little research on the topic. But it is apparent, he said, that running on more rigid surfaces, such as asphalt or synthetic tracks, typically results in "more loading on the joints" and a greater likelihood of injury.

Of course, grassy fields pose risks too, as Bartholomew discovered when he visited his family in Grenada over the winter. Returning to the grass track of his youth, he stepped in a hole and injured his hip, though it has recovered.

The concept of working out on softer surfaces isn't exactly groundbreaking. Roger Black, who won silver in the 400 meters at the Atlanta Games in 1996, was part of a coterie of top-notch British runners who trained on a grass track at the University of Southampton. And when Jamaican sprinter Don Quarrie arrived at Southern Cal in the late 1960s, he eschewed the school's newly installed, top-of-the-line synthetic track in favor of an old cinder track. According to Peter Thompson, a longtime coach and former official with IAAF, track and field's governing body, Quarrie felt he could more effectively build muscle and develop tendon elasticity on cinder. He became a four-time Olympic medalist. "He recognized that it wasn't necessarily an advantage to train all the time at a high-class facility," Thompson said.

James turned professional after his sophomore year at the University of Alabama but has remained in Tuscaloosa, where he runs under the direction of Harvey Glance, who retired as Alabama's track coach last year. James is the only athlete he still coaches. "When you have the pleasure of working with the No. 1 athlete in the world, that's a no-brainer," said Glance, who won gold as part of the U.S. 4x100-meter relay team at the Montreal Games in 1976.

If either James or Bartholomew medals in London, the celebration in Grenada would be spectacular. Last year, after James won his world title at age 19, a street was named after him in St. George's, the capital.

Asked what would happen if James and/or Bartholomew were to medal, Conrad Francis, the country's coordinator of sport, put it this way: "Euphoria."

Let's start the conversation

by Michael Bascombe

In a matter of weeks, some of our most cherished and celebrated athletes will be flying the national colours at the Olympic Games in London, and with all the recent disappointing news stealing the spotlight it is a good time to look to our sportsmen and women for encouragement and hope.

There are a number of athletes who are putting all their time and effort into improving their standings or attempting to qualify in their respective events.

Chief among them are Kirani James, Rondell Bartholomew, Joel Redhead, Kurt Felix, Kanika Beckles and Andrea St Bernard (Taekwondo).

We are traveling to Eugene, OR this weekend for a star-studded line-up of athletes at the 38^th Prefontaine Classic meet at Hayward Field.

Of interest to Grenada would be the Men’s 400m which is considered a dress rehearsal for the Olympic 400 metres rivalry involving the reigning Olympic champion and world leader LaShawn Merritt; the 2004 Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner and the reigning World champion Kirani James.

And hopefully next weekend we could see Rondell Bartholomew competes for the first time in 2012. There are indications that he may open his season at the adidas Grand Prix in New York on June 9.

That same weekend, Kanika Beckles and Kurt Felix will be competing in the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. Beckles, in particular, has shown remarkable improvement over the past five (5) months.

Consider the athlete running 53 and 54 seconds in March and under the guidance of Alleyne Francique is a leading contender among college athletes with a personal best of 51.72 a few weeks ago.

The hope is that my colleagues will find some time to give attention to the athletes’ preparations and performances through their regular bulletins, blogging, and social media. We are sometimes blamed for fuelling the negatives. Why not assist in changing the “conversation”? By doing that you may also educate our population about a competitor’s preparation for an international event as the Olympic Games.

My best wishes to our sportsmen and women as they continue their journey. 

Here is a guide to what some of our athletes have or attempting to achieve.

200m (Men 20.55 A, 20.65 B) (Women 23.10 A, 23.30 B),

400m (Men 45.30 A, 45.90 B) (Women 51.55 A, 52.35 B),

400mH (Men 49.50 A, 49.80 B)

800m (Women 1:59.90 A, 2:01.30 B)

Decathlon (8200 A, 7950 B)

Long Jump (Men 8.20 A, 8.10 B) (Women 6.75 A, 6.65 B)

Triple Jump (Men 17.20 A, 16.85 B) (Women 14.30 A, 14.10 B)

Top 16 teams 4x400m (As of May 20, 2012, Grenada was ranked 18^th with an aggregate of 6:08.96 and an average of 3:04.48).

According to the IAAF, athletes must reach the standards as set by the IAAF during the following prescribed periods:

     -   10,000m, Marathon, Race Walk and Combined Events: 1 January 2011 to 8 July 2012

     -   All other individual events: 1 May 2011 to 8 July 2012

     -   Relays: 1 January 2011 to 2 July 2012
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FLASHBACK: Randy Lewis 2008 Beijing Olympics

A National Sports Hall of Fame

                                                

By Michael Bascombe

Legendary Donald Pierre

One of the biggest lessons learnt from Grenada’s campaign at last weekend’s IAAF World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey is to prepare for disappointments during the careers of our top flight competitors – Kirani James and Rondell Bartholomew.

James’ failed attempt at the World Indoor 400 metre title last weekend is a clear indication of the ups and downs we must expect during his career. It’s no different to Bartholomew’s disappointment in Daegu, South Korea last summer. Bartholomew entered the IAAF World Championships in Athletics as a favourite with a world leading time of 44.65 seconds. However, he was the victim of a long season and finished outside of the medals.

He decided to skip the indoor season this year and concentrate on competition starting in late spring.

James on the other hand, started the season with a bang, winning permit meets in Boston, Arkansas and Stockholm, Sweden but missed out on adding a second world title to his short but distinguished professional career.

Retired quarter-miler Alleyne Francique won the 2004 edition in Budapest, Hungary and repeated that performance in Moscow, Russia two years later.

I was particularly impressed with the 19 year-old acceptance of defeat. He displayed great maturity in his post-race interviews. He has been described as a true ‘champion’.

It was also a disappointed weekend for Colleen Felix (University of Georgia) and Kurt Felix (Boise State University) at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Idaho. Colleen, a favourite in the women’s triple jump, only managed one successful jump while Kurt (DNF) in the men’s heptathlon after a no height in the pole vault and a (DNS) in the 1,000 metres.

But despite the inclement weather at home there were the National Athletics Championships at the stadium and the opening of the “Grenada Super League” organised by the Grenada Football Association in Grenville, St Andrew.

I was also happy to hear that our longstanding sports administrator, Veda Bruno-Victor was unanimously re-elected to the executive committee of the Pan American Sport Organisation (PASO) at their meeting in Mexico this week.

Founded on August 8, 1948, Pan American Sports Organization (PASO), comes with the mission to strengthen the bonds of union and friendship between the peoples of the Americas, to encourage and promote sports development. PASO, recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), comprises 42 member countries.

It was announced in the 2012 Budget Presentation that the Grenada Government has decided that the secondary stands at the National Cricket Stadium will be named in honour of former West Indies cricketers Junior Murray and Rawl Lewis.

But except for an increased in the budgetary allocation for tourism marketing, nothing has been said about sports tourism. How are we positioning ourselves to benefit from the foundation being laid by our sportsmen and women?

We are into the track and field season and the names of Kirani James and Rondell Bartholomew would be highlighted among world ranked athletes. The Jason Roberts Foundation and the Shalrie Joseph Soccer Academy are two additional areas of sports tourism interests. What is the role of the Grenada Board of Tourism to capitalise on this mega-marketing initiative?

Jason Roberts should be given the role as a lead spokesman for the Olympics-bound Team Grenada, given his status in the UK media. He is a true sports ambassador!

While on the Olympics, it’s becoming clearer that Grenada’s medal hopes will lie in the individual events, particularly in the men’s 400m. It’s highly unlikely that a 4x400m relay team will qualify for London.

The uncertainty surrounding Bartholomew and possible knee surgery for Joel Phillip would certainly hamper chances of a relay team qualifying. Bartholomew skipped the indoor season and there is no word as to when he will open his outdoor campaign. Phillip, who has a personal best of 45.29 seconds, has been in training but up until this month announced that he has to undergo knee surgery. This leaves James and Joel Redhead as the only two sureties.

The 2013 World Championships in Athletics in Moscow, Russia should be on target for the relay team.

Finally, the time has come for the authorities to start thinking on establishing a National Sports Hall of Fame. This will certainly put to rest the unnecessary chatter about recognition of our sports legends who have blazed the trails and paved the way for many of our current sportsmen and women.

This Hall of Fame, part of an evolving national sports policy, should be seen as another way to honour the lifetime achievements of our greatest sportsmen, women and administrators. A Hall of Fame Selection Panel could be created to administer the process by which these nominees will be inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame.

The likes of Donald Pierre, Maurice “Bull” Williams, Tyrone “Sampat” Harbin, Victor Joseph, Theophilus “Papitette” Redhead, James “Ox” Johnson, Oswald Clovey, Evelyn Gresham, Joseph “Joe” Gibbs, Walter St John, Alston “Heads” George, Raymond Anthony, Kenny Hobson, Veda Bruno-Victor, Janice Celestine, Harold “Flash” Williams, Bernard “Bunny” Wilson, among others are certain to have their names etched into the Hall of Fame.

Kirani James prepares to rewrite the history books

Workers finalising track on Thursday

by Michael Bascombe

Reporting from Istanbul, Turkey

ISTANBUL, Turkey, March 8, 2012 - Grenada's 400-metre World Champion Kirani James is all set for a shot at another world title this weekend as he competes in the IAAF World Indoor Championships starting here on Friday.

This will be his fourth indoor event for the year following consecutive victories in New York, Arkansas and Stockholm, Sweden.

But his attempt at the indoor world title is seen as important mental and physical preparation for the London Olympic Games this summer.

He may also add to the Grenada record books as the first athlete to win both world titles. Former national quarter-mile champion Alleyne Francique twice won the Indoor title but was edged out of a medal at the Olympic Games in Athens.

Preparations in Media Tribune

James is strongly favoured to win gold at Saturday's final but that depends on the opening round on Friday. His strongest challenge is expected from the defending Indoor Champion, Chris Brown of the Bahamas as well as Tabarie Henry of the United States’ Virgin Islands and the American duo of Gil Roberts and Calvin Smith. But previews have also listed Britain’s Nigel Levine as a contender.

The IAAF has reported that these championships are on course to become the biggest gathering in terms of participating national IAAF Member Federations in the history of these championships, exceeding the previous record set four years ago in Valencia, Spain.

The IAAF said that with 172 National Member Federations entering athletes to compete at the Atakoy Arena this weekend, Istanbul 2012 should surpass Valencia 2008 where 147 countries, also a participating record at the time, contested the event.

A total of 1,299 athletes and officials are also expected to attend what will be the IAAF’s most important event of the 2012 World Athletics Series. Following the February 27 deadline for Final Entries, 349 male athletes, 334 female athletes and 616 officials have entered.

James is the lone competitor for the Spice Isle following a withdrawal by Rondell Bartholomew and Triple Jumper Randy Lewis' decision to skip the indoor season.

In 2011 James became the youngest ever World or Olympic at 400m and was named a Sports Ambassador by the Grenada Government. Earlier this year, the Government also renamed a major roadway in the capital, the “Kirani James Boulevard”.

James takes aim at World Indoor title

File: Reuters

By Michael Bascombe

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas, February 11, 2012 – 2011 World 400m champion Kirani James of Grenada continues to improve on his indoor campaign with another world leading time of 45.19 seconds at the USA Track & Field (USATF) Classic at the University of Arkansas’ Randal Tyson Centre here on Saturday.

It was James’ second victory in as many outings as he prepares himself for a shot at the World Indoor title, twice won by his fellow Grenadian Alleyne Francique.

The Grenadian champion was always considered the favourite in the two-heats timed final on what’s considered one of the fastest indoor tracks in the United States.

Bahamian Demetrius Pinder set the pace with an opening 45.40 seconds to win the first race but the 19 year-old Grenadian lowered that mark as he won the second race in an impressive 45.19, ahead of Americans Calvin Smith, former USA Indoor champion Jamaal Torrence and Olympic bronze medallist David Neville.

Pinder copped the second spot and Smith was third overall in 45.73 seconds.

James will next compete in the XL-Galan Stockholm Indoor Meeting in Sweden on Thursday February 23 before his major indoor challenge at the World Indoors in Istanbul, Turkey, March 9-11.
Earlier, Kurt Felix and Janelle Redhead posted personal marks.

Felix of Boise State University won the Men’s Heptathlon in a personal best of 5,771 points after seven events at the Boise State University Team Challenge at the Jackson Track in Nampo, Idaho. His previous best was 5,691 points at the same meet last February.

Felix won the long jump (7.66m), shot put (12.86m) and the high jump (2.14m). He was second in the 60m dash (7.11secs), third in the 60m hurdles (8.51 secs), third in the pole vault (4.45m) and fourth in the 1,000m (2:51.01).

The former Junior Carifta Games’ champion wrapped up his win shortly after World 200m semi-finalist Janelle Redhead ran a personal indoor best in the 200m at the Tyson Invitational at Randal Tyson Track Centre.

Redhead, of Wayland Baptist University, finished sixth in 23.68 seconds to better her previous indoor best of 23.75 seconds clocked at the same facility exactly one year ago.

Also competing was Sherine Wells of Oklahoma University who was 25^th overall in 24.32 seconds.

Both athletes also competed in the women’s 60 metres dash on Friday with Wells clocking 7.48secs in 14^th position and Redhead, two places behind, in 7.59secs.

Over at the Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium in College Point, Texas, Kanika Beckles was 23^rd overall in the 200m in 25.36 seconds.

Redhead ran PB in 200m Indoor

File Photo: Janelle Redhead

by Michael Bascombe
FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas, February 11, 2012 – Top Grenadian sprinter Janelle Redhead ran a personal indoor best in the 200m at the Tyson Invitational at Randal Tyson Track Centre here on Saturday.

Redhead, of Wayland Baptist University, finished sixth in 23.68 seconds to better her previous indoor best of 23.75 seconds clocked at the same facility exactly one year ago.

Also competing was Sherine Wells of Oklahoma University who was 25^th overall in 24.32 seconds.

Both athletes also competed in the women’s 60 metres dash on Friday with Wells clocking 7.48secs in 14^th position and Redhead, two places behind, in 7.59secs.

Also to compete later on Saturday is World 400m champion and current indoor world leader Kirani James. James runs against Demetrius Pinder of the Bahamas and Jamaal Torrence and David Neville of the United States in the second of two races.

Over at Jackson Track in Nampa, Idaho, Kurt Felix continues to chase the 5,000-points mark in the Men’s Heptathlon at the Boise State University Team Challenge. Felix has so far totalled 4,270 points after five of the seven events.

He won the long jump (7.66m), shot put (12.86m) and the high jump (2.14m). He was second in the 60m dash (7.11secs) and third in the 60m hurdles (8.51 secs). Felix needs a minimum of 1,421 points in the remaining two events – pole vault and 1,000m – to better his indoor best of 5,691 points at the same facility.

Over at the Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium in College Point, Texas, Kanika Beckles competes in the 200m and 4x400m Relay at the Texas A&M Invitational.

Grenadian athletes intensify preparations this weekend

File Photo: Kirani James

By Michael Bascombe

NEW YORK, February 10, 2012 - A number of Grenadian athletes will be competing in various track and field meets across the United States this weekend.

Chief among them will be World 400m champion Kirani James who will compete in the USA Track & Field Classic in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

James opened his 2012 season with a world leading 45.96 at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston last weekend. James’ challengers include Demitrius Pinder, Tabari Henry, Calvin Smith, LaJerald Betters, David Neville, Jamaal Torrence, Joshua Smith and Miles Smith in a timed final.

An impressive performance on Saturday should put the world champion in pole position for the Indoor title at the World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey in one month’s time.

James may be the lone quarter-miler for Grenada at the World Indoors since his compatriot Rondell Bartholomew will skip the indoor season.

“I have decided to concentrate on outdoor competition this year and will skip the indoors,” said Bartholomew. “I had a long season last year and reflected on my disappointment in finishing outside of the medals”.

File Photo: Kurt Felix

Bartholomew, who finished sixth in the final, believes he has gained valuable experience in 2011 and looks forward to an ‘explosive’ season this year.

Coincidentally, both Bartholomew and James recorded their personal best timings in the 400m indoor at the Randal Tyson Centre in Arkansas last February. Bartholomew clocked a PB of 45.84 on February 11, 2011 and two weeks later on February 26, James recorded his personal best of 44.80.

Also skipping the indoor season this year will be Randy Lewis. The Germany-based triple jumper, who underwent knee surgery last year, said that his goal is to prepare for the Olympic Games in London this summer. “My main focus is going to be on the summer season,” he said.

File Photo: Sherine Wells

However, there are other athletes who will be destined to record qualifying marks in other competitions this weekend.

The USA Track & Field Classic is being held in conjunction with the 2012 Tyson Invitational which will also include Janelle Redhead, Sherine Wells, and Keron Toussaint.

Redhead of Wayland Baptist University and Wells of Oklahoma University will compete in the 60m, 200m and the 4x400m relay while Toussaint, a former Kansas University sprinter, runs in the 400m.

Over at College Point, Texas, Kanika Beckles will make her debut for Texas A&M under coach Alleyne Francique at the Texas A&M Invitational. She will compete in the 200m and the 4x400m relay.

Joel Redhead is expected to run the 400m at the Vulcan Invitational in Birmingham, Alabama and Kurt Felix of Boise State University, who copped the double in the long and high jumps in the competition last weekend, will compete in the Men’s Heptathlon at the Boise State University’s Team Challenge in Nampa, Idaho.

Weekend major conference and honouring of sporting heroes

By Lincoln Depradine

St. George’s, January 17, 2012 – Dozens of journalists from regional and international media are expected in Grenada this weekend for an important trade and business meeting involving representatives from the United Kingdom and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

The journalists will be here primarily to cover the 7^th UK-Caribbean Forum. However, their visit coincides with the honouring of track star, Kirani James, and the hosting of the 2011 National Sports Award at the Grenada Trade Centre in Morne Rouge, St. George’s.

The UK-Caribbean Forum is held every two years for the purpose of what has been described as “establishing priority areas for cooperation, discussing key areas of concern and proposing mechanisms to facilitate greater collaboration’’ between Britain and CARICOM nations.

The Grenada get-together, to be hosted by Foreign Minister Karl Hood, will be held over three, starting Friday, January 20, at the Grenadian By Rex Resort.

Minister Hood will be joined by his foreign affairs counterparts from other Caribbean countries; CARICOM Secretary General, Irwin LaRoque; and a UK delegation headed by Foreign Secretary, Hon. William Hague.

“The UK’s relationship with the Caribbean should be a broad-based partnership that involves business, civil society and ordinary people,’’ Mr. Hague said. “That is why I am so pleased that we are starting the Forum with a meeting of UK and Caribbean companies.’’

The Forum closes Sunday afternoon with a 12-overs’ cricket match at the SSU Grounds at Point Saline. A team of UK ministers and officials will compete against a CARICOM squad led by Foreign Minister Hood.

For the visiting journalists, their presence is also an opportunity to cover Saturday afternoon’s event at which Lagoon Road will be renamed after James, the current World 400 meter champion.

Saturday’s unveiling of the Kirani James Boulevard, as well as a roundabout to be named after athletic coach and former 400 meter indoor record holder, Alleyne Francique, will be attended by government officials and representatives of the Grenada Olympic Committee.

On Saturday evening, 19-year-old James will be attending the National Sports Awards where he is one of the nominees for Grenada’s Male Athletes of the Year.

James and Janelle Redhead, a women’s 200 meter semifinalist at the 2011 World Championships in South Korea, are among 16 male and female athletes vying for the top sportsman and sportswoman awards.

The keynote speaker at the awards’ ceremony is Trinidad Olympic medalist, Ato Boldon.

Another Trinidadian who will be in Grenada to deliver an address is journalist, Tony Fraser. He is the featured speaker at Sunday’s 6^th annual awards’ ceremony of the Media Workers Association of Grenada (MWAG) at the Trade Centre.

“We are very excited that Tony has agreed to come and speak at the awards,” said MWAG president Rawle Titus.

Grenada's sports personalities to be announced in January

File/Ato Boldon

ST GEORGE’S, December 31, 2011 - Grenada's Sports Personalities for 2011 will be announced at a ceremony in St. George's on Saturday January 21, 2012.

Grenada’s world 400m champion Kirani James, 400m finalist Rondell Bartholomew, 200m semi-finalist Janelle Redhead and coaches Albert Joseph and Alleyne Francique as well as other top performers for 2011 are expected to attend the ceremony.

Four-time Olympic medallist and Commonwealth Games 100m record holder, Ato Boldon of Trinidad and Tobago will be the guest speaker. Boldon is also a CBS and NBC Sports television broadcast analyst for track and field.

The ceremony will be held at the Spice Basket Grenada (outskirts of the capital) from 7:00 p.m. Grenada (6:00 p.m. ET).

SOURCE: Michael Bascombe

Ministry welcomes home track stars

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada December 23, 2011 - The Ministry of Youth Empowerment and Sports has welcomed home World 400m Champion Kirani James and Rondell Bartholomew home for the Christmas Holidays.

Both athletes arrived on the island earlier this week and already taking some well-deserved relaxation following a successful 2011 season.

“The Ministry welcomes Kirani, Rondell and other sportsmen and women who are here to spend the holidays with their families and friends,” said Sports Minister Patrick Simmons.

The Minister said that the planned Homecoming for the athletes and coach Albert Joseph will be held in January which will coincide with the National Sports Awards Ceremony.

Grenada’s athletics were thrown into the spotlight when Kirani and Rondell reached the final of the Men’s 400m at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea last summer.

Kirani edged the defending champion American LaShawn Merritt to secure his island’s first gold medal at the outdoor version of the World Championships while Rondell finished sixth.

Janelle Redhead, the other Grenadian athlete at the championships, was a semifinalist in the Women’s 200m.

The Grenada Government has announced plans to award the athletes and coach including former two-time World Indoor champion Alleyne Francique.

Grenada Government announces incentives for athletes

Fellow Grenadians, during the past weeks, our international athletes have demonstrated great prowess on the world track and field circuit, bringing a sense of immeasurable pride and joy to all Grenadians as well as the wider Caribbean.

Their outstanding performances on the track both in Daegu and Europe have also brought incredible recognition to us as a small island developing state.

The exploits of our athletes today, is due to the collaborative efforts of a number of stake holders particularly during the last 25 years. In this context we will like acknowledge the contributions of the Grenada Olympic Committee, the Grenada Athletics Association, the Secondary Schools Principal Association, the Grenada Track and Field Coaches Association, the Grenada Union of Teachers and Speed Zone in the development of these athletes.    

For small countries like ours, opportunities to celebrate athletic excellence of this magnitude are very few. Therefore, when such an unprecedented opportunity like this one presents itself, it must be embraced with gratitude and duly rewarded.

 As a result, based on the recommendations of some of the afore mentioned stakeholders, together with the timely guidance of the National Sports Policy, the Cabinet of Grenada has decided on a reward and incentive package for our athlete’s world class performance at 2011 World Athletics Championship in Daegu, South Korea.

 These are as follows:

Ø  Renaming of Lagoon Road to Kirani James Boulevard

Ø  Provision of a parcel of land to both Kirani and Rondel

Ø  Provision of a home for Kirani’s family

Ø  Provision of housing assistance to Janelle’s parent

Ø  Provision of housing assistance to coach Joseph

Ø  Appointment as Sports Ambassadors with Official Passport

Ø  Commissioning of a commemorative stamp with Rondell and Kirani

Ø  Issuance of an invitation to Alleyne Francique to attend the ceremony and the naming of the roundabout at the top of Lagoon Road in his name.

In due course the special committee will inform the nation as to the plans for our athletes home coming.

As we forge ahead with our new vision and road map for sports development; the implementation of our sports policy, lighting of major playing fields, formation of parish sports councils, the implementation of Physical Education in the curriculum in Primary and Secondary schools, a playing field maintenance programme, and the re-construction of the athletics and football stadium.

We are convinced that more of our athletes in all sporting disciplines will emerge to take centre stage on the world circuit.

In closing, I leave these words of encouragement to our sports administrators, coaches, trainers and athletes from J.J. Goldwag author; “the greatest source of success is the belief that it can happen and your will to do the work to make it happen.”

May God continue to bless our nation!

 National Speech Athletes by mikebas 

Grenada Government to unveil rewards for World Championships' athletes

File: Kirani James
and Rondell Bartholomew

by Michael Bascombe

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, October 10, 2011 - The Grenada Government is expected to unveil a reward and incentive package, in recognition of the outstanding contributions by some of the nation’s top track and field athletes and coaches.

Following the gold-medal performance by Kirani James at the World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea, Prime Minister Tillman Thomas hinted about government’s plans to honour the athletes.

Speaking at a recent ceremony in New York to honour the World Championships’ athletes, Prime Minister Thomas said that “Cabinet is now considering a range of options to properly reward our athletes when they perform at the highest level”.

A source said that a Cabinet-appointed special committee has made recommendations to the government which include honouring the three athletes and coach who represented Grenada at the World Championships and also former World Indoor champion and now US-based collegiate coach Alleyne Francique.

Details as to what government has decided are not known but the source confirmed that the Tillman Thomas administration is preparing to announce the initiative which could also include assistance to the families of the athletes.

Kirani James won the Men’s 400 metres at the 13^th IAAF World Championships in Athletics and also secured the title at the Samsung Diamond League while Rondell Bartholomew was a finalist in the World Championships and also competed in the Diamond League while Janelle Redhead reached the semi-finals of the Women’s 200 metres at the World Championships.

Albert Joseph, who was among those honoured in the ceremony in New York last month, is a founding member of the Speedzone Track Club and has been credited in identifying James’ talents at an early age.

Alleyne Francique, a two-time World Indoor 400 metres champion, is an assistant coach at Texas A&M University and has already secured six national titles – three men and three women.

Commentary: Some Sober Reflections and the Way Forward

by Michael Bascombe

Now that the celebrations have subsided over the successes of our track athletes at the 13^th IAAF World Championships in Athletics in South Korea, it’s probably an opportune moment for some sober reflections on the experiences of the past three weeks when sports highlighted a patriotic and united people.

It’s important for us to begin the reflections on where we came from and what direction we are heading.

We have to acknowledge that two of the world’s youngest and most exciting athletes over the one-lap event are from Grenada. No doubt, Rondell Bartholomew and Kirani James have maintained their competitiveness and rivalry since the Inter-Col Championships, Junior CARIFTA Games, NJCAA & NCAA and now the professional circuit.

However, as we look towards the future and more so in the interest of the upcoming talents that have begun to project themselves on the international scene, there must be some established level of control on how our athletes are recruited to colleges and universities in the United States and the world over. Over the years the Government and the Grenada Olympic Committee have invested a lot of money into the early development of our track and field athletes and except for Alleyne Francique, Randy Lewis and Neisha Bernard-Thomas the ratio between input and output has been uneven.

While we don’t expect every potential athlete to continue with track as a career, we must however recognise that Grenada was once ranked number three among Caribbean countries with the most number of track and field athletes on scholarships in the United States. Jamaica and the Bahamas were leaders. However, very few of our athletes moved to the next level even though they were tops in their various events in college.

Permit me to dig into some history to explain that Jamaica’s successes to date is not because of the exceptional ability of Usain Bolt but instead started since 1948 when Dr Authur Wint secured the island’s first track gold medal in the 400 metres at the Olympic Games in London. Four years later he teamed up with Herb McKenley, Leslie Laing and George Rhoden to win the 4x400m relay at the Games in Helsinki. At that same Olympic Games Rhoden also set a world record in the 400m. Jamaica’s successes continued through the years with the likes of Donald Quarrie, Bert Cameron, Grace Jackson, Raymond Stewart, Juliet Cuthbert, Merlene Ottey and others and most recently Veronica Campbell-Brown, Kerron Stewart, Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell and Yohan Blake, among others.

But a major factor and probably seeding ground for the Jamaicans has been the attention and focus placed on their homegrown talents and the structures put in place to ensure that their athletes have successful careers but remain grounded in their roots and act as a conduit to other young athletes. I refer to their annual Boys and Girls Champs, the premier track and field event in Jamaica, and which attract scores of overseas recruits and international media. The successful athletes and schools are also selected to represent the island at the Penn Relays in the United States.

Here is where our National Primary Schools, Private Schools and Secondary Schools’ Athletics Championships should take centre stage. But I am afraid until there is an overhaul of the current format of the Inter-col Championships (which hasn’t changed in at least a decade or more) then we may fail to take it to the next level and thereby attract overseas recruits who otherwise flock to Jamaica and the Bahamas.

This (attracting the overseas recruits) will also give us some amount of leverage in securing the best deals at college for some of our athletes. Parents, schools, coach, athletic association, sports ministry and other major stakeholders should have an input in determining what the best options for our athletes.

While we are basking in the glory of the recent successes of two of our professional track athletes there are already indications that their appearances in National colours may be limited and their coaches and agents are totally in charge.

The word is that these athletes may have to miss representing Grenada at the Pan-American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico next month, on the advice of their coaches. If that is true, then we are in for some serious issues in the future when these athletes reach the pinnacle of their careers.

The Ministry of Sports, Grenada Olympic Committee and the Grenada Athletics Association must now take the bold step and put structures in place to ensure that in the future there is a process that must be adhered to and not the backdoor system.

The message must also be sent to these overseas coaches and agents that we are sending you athletes who are already running fast times and that there must be a good level of respect shown to the little island called GRENADA. They are reaping the benefits in the shortest possible time and in return showing scant courtesies to the foundation of our athletes.

In the meantime, as we hope and pray for the wellbeing and successful future of our athletes and that good sense shall prevail, let’s focus attention on what should be done to avoid any reoccurrences.

With the likelihood of the athletics stadium being completed in the New Year, I am suggesting the twinning of an athletics programme between the St George’s University and the T.A. Marryshow Community College where our talented track and field athletes could remain at home and train with some of our qualified coaches.

Both institutions could also use their international accreditation status to invite overseas coaches for small stints on the island which could also benefit some of our local coaches. They include Wayne McSween, Albert Joseph, Denise Williams, Bruce Swan, Timothy Britton and Trevor Modeste, among others. Our coaches have the knowledge and can only benefit from the finesse and experience along with evolving techniques from the more established overseas professionals but some lack the interpersonal skills needed to help the athletes.

This can and should save us thousands of dollars in the long run which could be used in upgrading other facilities around the island to enhance the talent identification and grassroots programmes of the Ministry of Sports and the athletics association.

We will also be able to empower ourselves as serious negotiators with agents on behalf of our athletes. We should draw on the experiences and expertise of Alleyne Francique and Randy Lewis in their negotiations with agents. Let’s protect and meaningfully support our Athletes as our Nation’s Ambassadors - current and future.