Beyond Kirani: Where is Grenada’s next generation of professionals?

Sports Commentary by Michael Bascombe

Sir Kirani James is not competing at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest this weekend, but any serious discussion about the present and future of Grenadian athletics still has to include him.

James turned 34 on September 1 and remains competitive internationally. He ran a season-best 44.83 seconds for third in Zurich, clocked 44.92 in Brescia, and returned to the podium in Rovereto on Tuesday with 45.11.

That level of consistency, more than 15 years after he emerged internationally, deserves recognition. But it also raises an unavoidable question: who will eventually fill the void when Kirani leaves the international circuit?

Grenada is not without athletes competing beyond the domestic level. World Athletics lists Gamali Felix and Michael Francois, both 400-metre athletes, and 200-metre runner Troy Mason among Grenada’s ranked athletes under its Athletes’ Representatives framework.

However, Grenada’s most established presence at the highest level remains concentrated around James in the 400 metres, Anderson Peters in the javelin, and Lindon Victor in the decathlon. Victor reinforced his international standing this year by winning the Commonwealth title in Glasgow with 8,096 points. Sprinter Nazzio John has also indicated his intention to turn professional for the 2027 season.

So perhaps the question is not simply, “Where are Grenada’s professional athletes?”

A better question is: Where is the next group capable of consistently reaching major championships and competing at the top level of the international circuit?

Grenada has produced successful juniors and athletes who have secured overseas scholarships. The difficulty appears to be sustaining that progression into the senior ranks.

What happens between 18 and 23? How closely are athletes monitored once they leave Grenada? Is the NCAA and college route producing the expected outcomes? What happens when scholarships end? Is there sufficient support for athletes who have completed college but are not yet earning enough from the sport to continue full-time?

The situation involving female athletes deserves particular attention.

Grenada Athletics Association (GAA) President Johnell Mitchell raised the issue on TalkSports last weekend.

“We need to do something about our female athletes and the direction of our female athletes,” he said.

Mitchell referred to Suerena Alexander and Jamara Patterson and also identified triple jumper Christanna Charles as an athlete with significant potential. His wider concern was that too few promising female juniors are progressing successfully into the senior ranks.

Before solutions can be prescribed, however, the GAA needs evidence.

What happened to Grenada’s leading female athletes after CARIFTA and InterCol? How many were still competing three or five years later? If they left the sport, why?

Was it coaching, scholarships, finance, education, family responsibilities, limited competition, or the absence of a realistic professional pathway?

Grenada athletics has produced world-class athletes. The more difficult challenge is building a system that makes world-class development less dependent on exceptional individuals.

Grenada missed its moment on Eastern Parkway

Commentary by Michael Bascombe

On Eastern Parkway on Monday, Caribbean culture was not only on parade but also being marketed.

The 59th New York Carnival Parade, organised by the West Indian American Day Carnival Association, drew a large street audience, while several New York television stations carried live or digital coverage. ABC7, for example, streamed its broadcast on its website, Disney+, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook, bringing the celebrations to viewers far beyond Brooklyn. WIADCA describes the event as North America’s largest Caribbean carnival, while ABC7 called it the largest Caribbean cultural festival in the United States.

Several Caribbean destinations recognised the marketing value of that exposure.

Across the broadcasts monitored, representatives promoting Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Jamaica, Haiti, the United States Virgin Islands, and Trinidad and Tobago used their appearances to sell their culture, carnivals, and tourism products. Antigua and Barbuda looked beyond this year, promoting the 70th anniversary of its Carnival in 2027. Its government has already published the festival dates of July 20 to August 3.

PIX11 also included Trinidad-born Michael Manswell as an honorary co-host. Manswell is an award-winning dancer, singer, and choreographer who serves as artistic director of Something Positive Inc. His presence showed how cultural practitioners can help a destination’s traditions secure meaningful space within mainstream broadcasting.

What was not similarly visible was a coordinated Grenadian promotion involving the Spicemas Corporation (SMC) or the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA).

That does not mean either agency undertook any activity in New York. The GTA has previously conducted meetings and promotions involving New York media, travel advisers, and airline representatives. However, there was no comparable Grenadian pitch evident during the parade broadcasts. If there was an activation away from the cameras, it did not reach the large television and online audience following the parade.

That was a missed opportunity.

The United States remains Grenada’s largest tourism source market, and the GTA itself identifies New York as one of the destination’s key markets. The GTA is responsible for destination marketing, while the SMC’s stated mandate includes promoting and organising Spicemas. Their responsibilities naturally meet when Grenada’s premier cultural festival is being sold overseas.

A proactive Grenadian presence could have included a prepared spokesperson, masqueraders in costume, cultural performers, and a concise television pitch explaining why viewers should choose Spicemas in 2027. Festival dates, travel packages, and a dedicated booking or information link could have been promoted while the audience was already thinking about Caribbean carnivals.

Antigua and Barbuda was selling next year’s festival. Grenada should have been doing the same.

Grenada also has a powerful but underused partner in New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. He is a first-generation Brooklynite of Grenadian heritage, and the Grenada flag regularly accompanies him at major cultural events. His own office used a photograph of him waving the flag in its 2026 parade advisory.

In terms of sustained public visibility, Williams may be Grenada’s most consistent informal marketer in New York. Greater engagement with him should not mean politicising tourism or presuming his endorsement. It could involve seeking his advice, strengthening links with community organisations, and using his office’s reach to identify legitimate cultural and diaspora opportunities.

The wider lesson extends beyond Eastern Parkway. SMC and GTA should develop an annual overseas-events calendar covering Miami Carnival, Caribbean Premier League matches, and selected NBA, NFL, and LPGA events in markets with strong Caribbean communities or useful travel connections. Grenada does not need an expensive presence everywhere. It needs carefully selected activations with measurable objectives, bookable offers, and proper follow-up.

Spicemas also has a strong reputation as a comparatively safe and welcoming summer festival. If SMC and GTA intend to market it as the Caribbean’s safest, that claim should be supported by police, emergency-response, and event data, and then used confidently as part of the festival’s international appeal.

Grenada does not lack a product to sell. It has culture, music, traditional mas, Jab Jab, direct access to a major American market, and a sizeable diaspora willing to help.

What was missing on Monday was the organised pitch.

Eastern Parkway presents this opportunity every year. When the Caribbean has New York’s attention, Grenada cannot afford to remain quiet.

James returns to podium with third-place finish in Rovereto

by Michael Bascombe

ROVERETO, Italy, Sep. 8, 2026 - Sir Kirani James returned to the podium on Tuesday, finishing third in the men’s 400 metres at the Palio Città della Quercia in Rovereto.

The Grenadian finished in 45.11 seconds at the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meeting.

Canada’s Christopher Morales Williams won in 44.64, while Belgium’s Daniel Segers took second in 45.04.

James, running from lane four, finished seven-hundredths of a second behind Segers and 0.47 behind Morales Williams.

American Demarius Smith was fourth in 45.28, followed by South Africa’s Leendert Koekemoer in 45.30. Eugene Omalla of the Netherlands placed sixth in 45.94, while Italy’s Lorenzo Benati was seventh in 46.01.

Tuesday’s performance gave James his second podium finish in his three most recent European appearances.

The 2012 Olympic and 2011 world champion ran a season's best of 44.83 to place third at the Zurich Diamond League on August 27.

Three days later, he recorded another sub-45-second performance at the Grand Prix Brescia, clocking 44.92 for seventh in a tightly contested race won by Koekemoer in 44.52.

James’ latest appearance continued a busy closing period to his European season. His times across the three races were separated by less than three-tenths of a second.

The Rovereto meeting, staged at the Stadio della Quercia, was the 62nd edition of the Palio Città della Quercia.

GAA working towards national relay teams, Mitchell says

by Michael Bascombe

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, Sep. 5, 2026 - The Grenada Athletics Association is working towards fielding national teams in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays, President Johnell Mitchell said Saturday, although he gave no timetable for the initiative.

Mitchell was speaking on the TalkSports programme in his first major interview following his election as GAA president.

He said discussions and other preparatory work were taking place but were not yet ready to be made public.

“We have quite a few of our athletes who are running good times — 46s, 45s,” Mitchell said. “We have to be able to get them together, and it is a direction that we are moving in.”

He said the GAA’s objective extended beyond forming a single 4x400m team.

“In time to come, I’m going to say to you and to the general public, we will have a relay team out there — not a relay team, but we’re going to have 4x100s and 4x400s,” he said.

Mitchell also identified the development and retention of female athletes as an area requiring closer attention.

“We need to do something about our female athletes and the direction of our female athletes,” he said. “That’s one of the areas we’ve kind of dropped off in recent times.”

The GAA president referred to Suerena Alexander and Jamara Patterson among the country’s established female athletes, but said too few promising juniors were progressing successfully into the senior ranks.

“We need to probably take a deep dive into what’s happening with our young female athletes who we see performing well,” he said.

Mitchell also highlighted triple jumper Christanna Charles, whom he described as a well-rounded athlete with the potential to progress if she continues to receive proper guidance and support.

The comments identify relay development and the transition of female athletes among Mitchell’s early priorities. However, the GAA has not yet announced implementation dates, selection standards, or targeted competitions for the proposed relay teams.

Peters claims another European podium; James seventh in Brescia

by Michael Bascombe

BERLIN, Germany, Aug. 30, 2026 - Anderson Peters secured his second podium finish in four days with a runner-up effort in the men’s javelin at ISTAF Berlin on Sunday, while fellow Grenadian Kirani James ran under 45 seconds but placed seventh at the Grand Prix Brescia in Italy.

Peters recorded a best throw of 83.32 metres, finishing behind Germany’s Julian Weber, who delighted the home crowd with a winning effort of 89.54m.

The two-time world champion entered the final round in second place with 83.10m before improving by 22 centimetres with his last attempt.

Weber also saved his best for the final round, moving from 85.59m to 89.54m to secure the victory.

American Marc Anthony Minichello finished third with 83.28m, just four centimetres behind Peters. Germany’s Nick Thumm was fourth with 83.10m.

Sunday’s result gave Peters another runner-up finish after his season-best throw of 86.93m at the Zurich Diamond League on Thursday.

In Brescia, James completed the men’s 400m in 44.92 seconds but had to settle for seventh in a race separated by narrow margins.

South Africa’s Leendert Koekemoer won in 44.52, with Dutch runner Jonas Phijffers second in 44.61. Australia’s Reece Holder secured third in 44.63.

James finished only four-tenths of a second behind the winner and 0.29 outside the podium. His performance was his second sub-45-second clocking in four days, following his season best of 44.83 for third in Zurich.

There were two victories for OECS athletes at the Brescia meeting.

St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Shafiqua Maloney won the women’s 800m in one minute, 58.03 seconds.

Ireland’s Sophie O’Sullivan finished second in 1:58.60, narrowly ahead of Italy’s Eloisa Coiro, who took third in 1:58.62.

Dominica’s Olympic champion Thea LaFond won the women’s triple jump with 14.50m, achieved in the third round against a 1.6 metres-per-second headwind.

Bulgaria’s Gabriela Petrova placed second with 14.17m, while Jamaica’s Ackelia Smith completed the podium with 14.13m.