Top marks for Grenadian athletes at Conference Meets

Kurt Felix (Boise State)

By Michael Bascombe

NEW YORK, May 13, 2012 - It has been a very busy weekend for Grenadian track and field athletes in competitions across the United States.

Among the major achievers were Kurt Felix, Kanika Beckles, Colleen Felix, Sherine Wells, Daryl Baptiste, Neisha Bernard-Smith, Akeisha Dumont, Paul Williams, Rawle DeLisle, Elston and Leston Alexis and Jomo Bullen.

Kurt Felix of Boise State swept the men’s awards at the 2012 Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Air Force’s Cadet Track and Field Complex in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Felix earned the MW Men’s High Point Performer and Men’s Outstanding Performance Award.

He earned his second title of the meet, winning the javelin and picking up his second all-conference honour. His mark of 63.18m was a one-metre win over the second place finisher.

At the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Outdoor Championships in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Colleen Felix was second for the University of Georgia in the Women’s Triple Jump (12.98m) and third with a season-best throw of 45.61m in the Javelin.

At the Big 12 Outdoor Championships in Manhattan, Kansas, Kanika Beckles was second for Texas A&M University in the Women’s 400m in 51.93 seconds. On Saturday, she posted a personal best and Olympic B Standard Qualifying time of 51.72 in the preliminaries.

Also, Sherine Wells of the University of Oklahoma finished 4^th in Heat 3 of the Women’s 200m in 23.76.

In more results, Daryl Baptiste (University of Akron) was 4th in the Men's Long Jump (7.33m) at the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Championships in Michigan and Neisha Bernard-Smith opened her season at the Ponce Invitational in Puerto Rico Saturday night with a 5th place finish  in the Women's 800m.

On Saturday at the Road to London Twilight Series at Icahn Stadium at Randall’s Island, New York, Akeisha Dumont, running for Central Park, finished fifth in the Women’s 200m in 25.24 while Paul “Kim” Williams of Zenith Velocity Athletic Club was fifth in the Men’s 100m (10.59) and Rawle DeLisle, with CPTC New Balance, finished sixth in 10.90. Williams also copped a third place in the 200m in 21.54.

At the City University of New York (CUNY) Championships at Randall’s Island which ended on Sunday, there was a pair of victories for Elston Alexis of Medgar Evers College (MEC). Alexis won the Men’s Javelin (49.70m) and the Shot Put with 13.54m. His brother, Leston, copped the second spot in the Shot Put with 12.50m and the third position in the Javelin (46.80m) while Jomo Bullen, also of MEC, was fourth (44.78m).

The Alexis brothers also featured in the Hammer Throw, with Leston taking the fourth spot (26.91m) and Elston, fifth with 26.57m. Leston was also second in the Discus Throw with 36.59m and Elston fourth (35.06m).

Bullen also competed in the Long Jump (9^th, 5.88m) and seventh and fourth in the 200m (23.03) and 400m (51.14) respectively.

Meantime, Bralon Taplin (South Plains College), who has expressed a desire to represent Grenada, is highly favoured to win the Men's 400m at the NJCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships, starting on Tuesday in Levelland, TX. Taplin, who has Grenadian roots, clocked 45.36 seconds at the Red Raider Invitational last weekend.

Colleen Felix opens season with triple jump victory

by Michael Bascombe
NEW YORK, March 24, 2012 – There were contrasting results on the first official weekend of outdoor competition for Grenadian athletes in the United States.
Former Junior CARIFTA medallist Colleen Felix of the University of Georgia won the women’s triple jump at the Georgia Relays in Athens, Georgia on Saturday.

Felix tallied the nation’s leading mark in the triple jump during UG’s outdoor season opener. Felix, who won her second consecutive Southeastern Conference (SEC) indoor title in February, worked up to a jump of 13.13 metres on her fifth attempt to cruise to a victory. She was just short of the stadium record of 14.06m held by Grenadian Patricia Sylvester.

Felix also copped second spot in the javelin with a throw of 44.66m.

Also posting an impressive opener was Kanika Beckles (Texas A&M University) at the USC Trojan Invitational at the Loker Stadium in Los Angeles. Beckles was second in the women’s 400m in 53.94. Beckles also ran a split of 54.1 to help Texas A&M win the 4x400m Relay in 3:36.95.

At the LSU Relays in Louisiana, Neisha Bernard-Smith (Tiger Olympians) was third in the women’s 1500m in 4:29.37; Daryl Brathwaite (University of Akron) was fifth in the men’s long jump with 7.11m and Andon Mitchell (Unattached) was fourth in the men’s 100m in a windy (3.1) 10.40.

At the Alabama Relays in Tuscaloosa, Joel Redhead finished fourth in the men’s 400m Invitational in 48.01 while his sister Janelle (Wayland Baptist University) competed in the relays (6^th, 4x100m and 2^nd, 4x400m) at the Bobby Lane Invitational in Arlington, Texas. Sherine Wells (Oklahoma University) also competed in the sprints (10^th, 100m 11.81 and 10^th, 200m 24.47).

Melika Lewis, competing in her first outdoor meet since joining Monroe College in January, finished second in the women’s 200m (26.23) at the Monmouth Invitational.

Grenadian athletes open outdoor season this weekend

by Michael Bascombe

NEW YORK, March 21, 2012 - Several Grenadian track and field athletes will open their outdoor season this weekend at various meets across the United States.

Joel Redhead opens his 2012 campaign at the Alabama Relays in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and will be competing in the 400 metres.

Redhead, who is based in Mississippi, has already secured the “B” qualification for the 200m.

Also expected to compete this weekend are Janelle Redhead (Wayland Baptist University), Sherine Wells (University of Oklahoma), Colleen Felix (University of Georgia), Kanika Beckles (Texas A&M University), Neisha Bernard-Smith (adidas), Andon Mitchell (unattached), Daryl Baptiste (University of Akron), Lucy Fortune (South Plains College), Melika Lewis (Monroe College), Jomo Bullen, and brothers Elston and Leston Alexis (Medgar Evers College).

Redhead (Janelle) and Wells will compete at the Bobby Lane Invitational at the Maverick Stadium in Arlington, Texas while Felix attempts the triple jump and javelin events at the Georgia Relays in Athens, Georgia.

Beckles, who last week posted a windy 23.73 seconds (4.2 wind) in the 200m at the Baldy Castillo Invitational in Tempe, Arizona, will again be trekking across the West to compete at the USC Trojan Invitational in Los Angeles, California.

The LSU (Louisiana State University) Relays in Baton Rouge, Louisiana will see three Grenadians in competition. Bernard-Smith (formerly Bernard-Thomas) competes in the women’s 1500m; Mitchell in the men’s 100m and Baptiste in the men’s 100m and long jump events.

Fortune makes her second outdoor appearance on the weekend at the UTEP (University of Texas El Paso) Invitational in El Paso, Texas. Earlier this month, Fortune won the 100m in 12.23 at the West Texas Invitational.

Also expected in competition this weekend are Melika Lewis in the 200 and 400m at the Monmouth Invitational in New Jersey and Jomo Bullen, Elston and Leston Alexis at the Queen’s College Invitational.

Lewis will compete in the 200 and 400m; Bullen in the 100, 200 and possibly 400m and the brothers in the shot put, discuss, javelin and possibly the hammer.

Meantime, Kurt Felix (Boise State University) competes in the Decathlon at the Texas Relays next Wednesday and Thursday.

Medals for Grenadian athletes in US College Champs

Colleen Felix

By Michael Bascombe

NEW YORK, February 28, 2012 - Three Grenadian athletes tasted victories last weekend in Collegiate Track and Field Meets in the United States.

The wins were all in field events as Colleen Felix, Kurt Felix and Daryl Baptise continue to dominate their respective events.

Returning to competition since undergoing major surgery last season, Felix (Colleen) captured the Women’s Triple Jump at the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Indoor Championships in Lexington, Kentucky.

The University of Georgia’s Senior produced the winning jump of 13.01 metres in her second attempt after fouling in her opening attempt. This was Georgia’s first SEC title of this year’s meet and is the eighth-best mark in the United States this season.

Kurt Felix

"It feels good to win again, although I know I could have done better," said Felix, who now owns two of the three conference titles in the indoor event for the Georgia women and becomes the first Lady Bulldog to have back-to-back indoor crowns since Jenny Dahlgren (weight throw, 2006-07). "I did better than in my other competition this season and I'm glad to win. But I'm not proud of my mark. I felt good going into today but I wasn't sure what the others in the field would bring. I still have a lot of work to go before nationals."

Meantime, Kurt Felix easily won the Men’s Heptathlon at the Mountain West (MW) Track and Field Championships at the Albuquerque Convention Centre. Felix, a senior at Boise State, also earned the MW Men’s Top Point Performer honour after totalling 29.5 points over the three-day meet.

Felix racked up victories in the 60m (7.04), long jump (7.54m), shot put (12.81m) and high jump (2.11m). He was fourth in the 60m hurdles (8.41), sixth in the pole vault (4.45m) and fourth in the 1000m (2:56.31) to totalled 5,703 points.

Daryl Baptiste

Also in winners’ row on the weekend was Daryl Baptiste, who was named Most Outstanding Field Performer at the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships at the Stile Athletics Field House at the University of Akron (UA).

Baptiste, a Junior at UA, won the long jump event with a leap of 7.40 metres and then wrapped up his exploits in the triple jump with 14.96m. Except for his third attempt of 6.63m, Baptiste always led the long jump charge with 7.10, 7.18, 7.21, 7.10 and his final and winning attempt of 7.40m.

Also competing on the weekend was Sherine Wells (Oklahoma University) at the Big 12 Indoor Championships, hosted by Texas A&M at the Gilliam Indoor Stadium in College Station, Texas. Wells clocked 7.64 in the Women’s 60m and 24.39 in the 200m preliminaries.

Wells teamed up with Shakeeri Cole, Claire McConnell and Shelleyeka Rolle in the 4x400m relay to run a season’s best time of 3:43.53 to finish eighth in the event.

Photos Credits: University of Georgia, Boise State, University of Akron

Track transfer valuable for Dogs in multiple events

Colleen Felix

by Chris Brandus

ATLANTA, GA, April 19, 2011 - When Colleen Felix came to the United States from St. Andrews, Grenada, three years ago she had no idea what to expect.

The junior had earned a track and field scholarship to South Plains Community College in Levelland, Texas, and it didn’t take her long to make a mark in junior college track and field competition.

But Felix proved to make the right move in heading to the United States to pursue her track and field career.

In 2010, she won two NJCAA individual national titles — one in the javelin and one in the triple jump — and was named the 2010 NJCAA Track & Field Athlete of the Year.

The transition wasn’t the easiest, but Felix has finally found her stride.

“I didn’t know anyone,” Felix said. “I didn’t really have a choice of where I went to school. It was exciting and it turned out to be a lot of fun and I still have a lot of great friends there.”

Now, after transferring to Georgia this year, Felix has become a weapon for the Lady Bulldogs’ track and field squad. During the indoor season, Felix won the triple jump at the SEC Championships with a distance of 44 feet, 3 ½ inches, which made her second in the Lady Bulldog record book.

“Colleen has been a pleasure to work with,” jumping coach Petros Kyprianou said. “The way her body is coordinated makes it easy for her to adapt to different techniques. We were fortunate that she decided to come to Georgia, and she has done great thus far.”

At the Spec Towns Invitational in Athens, Felix recorded the longest outdoor triple jump in the NCAA this year by jumping 44 feet, 6 ¾ inches and won the javelin throw with a distance of 153 feet, 10 inches.

“This year has been very different from Texas,” Felix said. “You don’t lift weights as much, but you do what is necessary to succeed.”

Felix, who is one of seven children, has returned home only once -— the last time being nearly two years ago. She said the training opportunities in the United States mainly fueled her decision to leave Grenada. And the 2012 Olympics in London is lingering on the horizon.

“Georgia is a great school with great academics,” Felix said. “I hope to go pro and continue to jump and throw well. I would love to make it to London in 2012. I don’t know what I will be able to do, I just have to keep working. I miss my family and friends, but I know that this will make me better.”

Although she misses her family and it isn’t always easy being in a far away country away from the comforts of home, Felix, a speech communications major, said she wants to serve as an example of perseverance and hard work for young athletes from her native country to emulate.

“You have to motivate yourself,” Felix said. “I want to help others out and inspire aspiring athletes. I love what I do and I would love to become a great example to others because of it.”

SOURCE: RedandBlack.com

James posts world leading time in 400m

by Michael Bascombe

NEW YORK, February 27, 2011 - Grenadian star athlete Kirani James ran a race of his life as he won the men’s 400m in a world leading time of 44.80 seconds at the 2011 Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships (SEC) at the Randal Tyson Tack Centre in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Sunday.

James was compelled to go into his reserves after watching Tony McQuay of Florida won the first of the two section event in 45.21, ahead of race favourite and world leader Torin Lawrence of Georgia (45.82).

The Grenada native and Alabama sophomore completed the first bend in 21.19 seconds and then left the rest of the field as he powered his way to win in a world leading a new SEC record of 44.80 seconds.

He also posted the fastest junior men’s indoor time (not officially recognised by the IAAF) beating the earlier mark of 44.93 by LaShawn Merritt of the USA six years ago.

The only person to run faster than Kirani James over the 400m indoor was Kerron Clement (44.57) at the same track on March 12, 2005.

Also in winners’ row at the SEC Championships was Colleen Felix in the women’s triple jump. From the start she was never challenged and posted 13.20m in her first attempt. She bettered her effort in the fourth attempt with the winning jump of 13.50m.

The other Grenadian in the IAAF Top List is Rondell Bartholomew with 45.84, a time he clocked on the same track two weeks ago.

In an immediate reaction, Sports Minister Patrick Simmons congratulated all three athletes on their splendid performances over the past few weeks.

Simmons said that the Government of Grenada will continue to support our sportsmen and women as they carry the nation’s flag.

“On behalf of the government and people I would like to congratulate Kirani and Colleen on their performances this weekend and also commendation to Rondell and the other athletes who continue to excel,” he said.