Bringing the spirit of Grenada to Britain

LONDON, July 15, 2012 - Despite the heavy downpour and a rainy week in London, the 4^th Annual Grenadian Heritage Day was convened at the Old Lyonian Sports and Social Club in Pinner, Harrow, London on Saturday July 14^th 2012, with scores of Grenadians and friends sampling tasty Grenadian cuisine, fruits, vegetables, arts, craft, culture, entertainment, on display, as Grenada’s Heritage was showcased for the fourth year running.

The idea, conceived in 2009, is aimed at educating second and succeeding generation Grenadians about their Heritage, and showcasing Grenadian Culture, Expertise and Cuisine.

Since the first event proved to be a tremendous success, the High Commissioner for Grenada and the Grenadian Community Groups in the United Kingdom, decided to make it an annual event.

The Event was Officially Opened by The Worshipful The Mayor of Harrow, Councillor Nizam Ismail accompanied by the Lady Mayoress, who warmly welcomed the culture of Grenada to Harrow.

The event was also graced by the presence of L/Cpl Dr Johnson Beharry VC, Mr Anthony C George, Designer of the Grenada Flag and the Grenada Olympic Team, led by Mr Conrad Francis, Chef de Mission.

The gathering took the opportunity to wish the team success at the games.

Several Grenadian Community Groups, individuals and supporters showcased their artistic talent with a variety of dishes, artistic creations and a wide range of performers in a variety of disciplines.

The Diaspora Youth Forum (DYF) UK took the opportunity to increase the awareness of Grenada’s Heritage among the 2^nd and succeeding generation Grenadians, with a corn-roasting stall and Grenadian-style snow ice, whilst the Diaspora Consultative Committee (DCC) UK also participated to raise funds for Educational Development in Grenada and raise awareness about the Homecoming Events August 5^th – 18^th 2012.

The Grenada Co-operative Bank (a.k.a. the Diaspora Bank), for the second time, participated in the Heritage Day and sensitized visitors on the facilities the Bank had in place for persons in the Diaspora.
Grenadians came from various parts of the United Kingdom including Manchester, Reading, Huddersfield, Birmingham, Wales and from several communities in and around London.

The High Commissioner for Grenada, HE Ruth Elizabeth Rouse, was high in praise for the Chair of the Heritage Day Committee, Mr. Claude Sylvester and his team, for their dedicated service to Grenada, in planning and executing the event.

Special thanks also went out to the stall-holders, sponsors in the UK and Grenada, including the Grenada Co-operative Bank Ltd., The Grenada Board of Tourism (UK), The Grenada Marketing and National Importing Board, Noelville Ltd., Grenada Distillers Ltd., and all others who took time out to support the event and raffle, which included a trip to Grenada.

The proceeds of the event will go towards a chosen Heritage-related Project in Grenada.

The 5^th Annual Grenadian Heritage Day will be convened in London on Saturday July 13^th 2013.

High Commission for Grenada

London

July 15^th 2012 

Members of Grenada's Olympic Team in London

Team Grenada opens pre-Olympic Games camp in Sunderland

by Michael Bascombe

SUNDERLAND, UK, July 3, 2012 – Members of the Grenada team for the Olympics Games in London have begun assembling for the first of two camps which officially opened on Monday.

Three athletes - Kurt Felix (Decathlon), Joel Redhead (200m), Neisha Bernard-Thomas (800m) – moved into Sunderland University for a pre-Olympic Games training camp.

They were also joined by chef de mission Conrad Francis, national coach Albert Joseph, and Felix’ coach Jeff Petersmeyer.

They will spend the next week training at the University’s modern facilities in preparation for the Games opening on July 27.

The other members of the team – Rondell Bartholomew (400m), Kirani James (400m), Kanika Beckles (400m), Paul Williams (100m), Janelle Williams (200m) and Esau Simpson (swimmer) - will join the camp on July 11 at the Broadbridge Heath Leisure centre near Horsham District in West Sussex. Andrea St. Bernard (Taekwondo) will join the team on July 25.

Simpson will be the first among his team members to see competitive action. The swimming competition starts on July 28 while track and field and taekwondo begin on August 3 and 8 respectively.

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 Athletic Chief confident of 4x400m Relay Team

File Photo/Bascombe

by Michael Bascombe

ST GEORGE’S, June 14, 2012 – The Grenada Athletics Association (GAA) is pulling out all stops to ensure that a 4x400m Relay team qualifies for the Olympic Games in London.

In the most recent Best Relay Performances issued by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), Grenada is 20^th among the top relay teams. However, only the top 16 teams will qualify for the Games, opening on July 27.

The IAAF will announce the 16 teams to qualify on July 3, based on the aggregate of the two fastest times achieved in the qualification period of January 1, 2011 to July 2, 2012.

Officials of the GAA and the Grenada Olympic Committee (GOC) have been discussing with Grenadian quarter-milers the possibility of entering a relay team for the 2012 Sagicor Trinidad and Tobago’s Senior Track and Field Championships at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port-of-Spain next weekend.

World 400m champion Kirani James, along with finalist Rondell Bartholomew, Bralon Taplin and Joel Redhead are the athletes who are expected to make the trip to Trinidad.

Bartholomew, who has not run competitively for the season and Taplin are also expected to compete in the individual 400 metres.

President of the GAA, Charles George is confident that Grenada’s 4x400m relay team will be in the top 16 by the July 2 deadline.

“This is our best opportunity but hinges on the availability of our top athletes,” he said. “As it is, that is a possibility since Rondell (Bartholomew) has indicated his availability for competition coming off an injury”.

Taplin, who has Grenadian roots, is a new entry to the relay team but will be attempting to lower his personal best of 45.36 seconds. His target is to better the Olympic “A” Standard of 45.30.

George said that the GAA has been in regular contact with both James and Bartholomew along with their coaches and agents but declined to give specifics. He said that it is customary for the association (GAA) to keep in constant contact with the athletes and their management team, and especially in the lead up to major events like the World Championships and Olympics.

At the Penn Relays in Philadelphia in April, the team of Redhead, James, Kevin Bowen and Keron Toussaint was 12^th overall in 3:08.85. James had a second-leg split of 43.8 seconds.

Seven athletes have already qualified for the London Olympics. They are James (Men’s 400m), Bartholomew (Men’s 400m), Kanika Beckles (Women’s 400m), Redhead (Men’s 200m), Kurt Felix (Men’s Decathlon), Janelle Redhead (Women’s 200m) and Neisha Bernard-Thomas (Women’s 800m).

The team will also include Andrea St Bernard (Taekwondo) and Esau Simpson with a wildcard in swimming.

Grenada's Felix and Beckles in 2012 NCAA Championships

NEW YORK, June 4, 2012 - Grenadian Kurt Felix is set to represent Boise State University this week (June 6-9) at the 2012 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field National Championships being held in Des Moines, Iowa. The four-day meet will be hosted at Drake University's Drake Stadium/Jim Duncan Track for the second-straight year.

Felix, a redshirt senior, will compete in the decathlon for the second time in his career at an NCAA outdoor national meet. He competed in the 2010 NCAA decathlon, placing 13 ^th, and enters this season's competition ranked fourth. He holds a career-best, school record and Grenada national record set this season in the 10-event competition with 7,972-points. Showing to be a tight race for the national title, Felix sits only 95-points behind this year's leader, Isaac Murphy of Texas who has totalled 8,067-points this season. 

Felix, the 2012 Mountain West Decathlon Champion will begin his quest for the national title on Wednesday, June 6 at 1:00 p.m. (ET) with the 100-metre dash. He will continue competition on Thursday, June 7 at 12:30 p.m. (ET) with the decathlon's 110-metre hurdles. 

Kanika Beckles is the other Grenadian competing in this week’s 2012 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field National Championships being held in Des Moines, Iowa.

Beckles will be representing Texas A&M University and is a top contender for the Women’s 400m and will also compete in the 4x400m Relay.

Beckles has been a success story at Texas A&M University. Her first race was a disappointment when she ran 1:00.08. But under Coach Alleyne Francique she improved to 53.94, 53.42, 52.92, 53.77, 51.72, 51.93, and 52.38.

Texas A&M became the first track and field program to ever win three straight men's and women's NCAA Outdoor Championships and will be seeking to extend that streak to four consecutive years. The Aggies became the first school to win dual titles in 20 years when they won their first set in 2009.

In 2010, A&M matched the rare achievement of consecutive dual NCAA titles claimed by LSU (1989-1990) under current Aggie head coach Pat Henry, who has totalled 33 NCAA Championships - 27 at LSU and currently six with Texas A&M University.

Another Grenadian athlete makes Olympic team

Neisha Bernard-Smith

NASHVILLE, TN June 3, 2012 - Neisha Bernard-Smith attained a B Standard Qualifying time in the Women’s 800 metre for the London Olympic Games, starting next month.

Bernard-Smith won the Women’s 800m Invitational at the Music City Distance Carnival hosted at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN on Saturday. Her time of 2:01.21 is a season best and Meet Record (2:01.81) and also better than the Olympic B Standard of 2:01.30.

Last month she ran 2:01.91 at a meet in Los Angeles. However, her personal best is 1:59.60 which she ran in Kingston, Jamaica on May 1, 2010.

The other Olympic-bound athletes so far are Kirani James, Rondell Bartholomew and Kanika Beckles (400m); Joel Redhead (200m); Kurt Felix (Decathlon); and Andrea St Bernard (Taekwondo).

The Distance Carnival is perennially one of the strongest gatherings of middle-distance and long-distance runners in the United States.

The event draws athletes from all over North America and routinely attracts U.S-based National record holders and Olympians from other countries.

The 2012 meet saw runners travel from 24 different U.S states and two Canadian provinces, and also a total of 15 different nations represented with many runners looking to stamp their tickets to the London Olympics later this summer.
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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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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.

Kirani James to open 2012 outdoor season in South Korea

By Michael Bascombe

NEW YORK, May 9, 2012 - The World 400m Champion Kirani James of Grenada will open his 2012 outdoor season next week when he competes in the IAAF World Challenge at the Colorful Daegu Championships Meeting in South Korea.

James, who ran a blistering 43.8 second-leg split for his national team’s 4x400m Relay at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia two weeks ago, is yet to face the starters in his outdoor individual 400m event.

The 19 year-old, who lifted Grenada’s first title at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Daegu last summer, has been preparing for end of semester examinations as a full-time student at the University of Alabama.

He had to skip invitations to compete at last weekend’s JN Jamaica International Invitational and the inaugural Cayman Invitational scheduled for Wednesday at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex.

James will instead focus on opening his season on the same track he won his first World Championship in August 2011. It’s his only competitive race this month but expected to start June competing at the Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon at the Samsung Diamond League, scheduled for June 2.

James appears to be the only certainty in the quarter-mile for Grenada this season since Rondell Bartholomew, who skipped the indoor season, remains on the injured list and may have a late start to his outdoor campaign.

Triple Jumper Randy Lewis will jump at a small meet near his training base in Leverkusen in Germany on Saturday but will officially open his season on May 20 in Garbsen, with another meet in Wesel on May 28.

Meantime, Kurt Felix is ranked eighth among Decathletes on the IAAF Top List. Felix, who is in final year at Boise State University, pushed himself inside of the World’s Top 10 when he won the Decathlon at the Mt. SAC Relays in Azusa, California on April 19.

His career-best score of 7,972 points was a Grenada national record as well as a school record and qualification for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

The other Grenadian athlete listed on the world rankings is Kanika Beckles. The quarter-miler, who is coached by Alleyne Francique at Texas A&M University, posted a personal best of 52.92 seconds at the Miami Hurricane Alumni Invitational in Coral Gables, Florida on April 14.

The Men’s 400m is led by American LaShawn Merritt with his 44.73 seconds clocked in Guadeloupe last Tuesday.

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.

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.

Kurt Felix posts personal best to win Heptathlon

By Michael Bascombe

NAMPA, Idaho, February 11, 2012 - Grenadians Kurt Felix and Janelle Redhead posted personal marks at indoor track and field meets in the United States this weekend.

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 and will also compete in the 4x400m Relay at the Texas A&M Invitational.

Also to compete later on Saturday is World 400m champion and current indoor world leader Kirani James. James runs against a revamped line-up which includes Americans Calvin Smith, Jamaal Torrence and David Neville in the second of two races.

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.

Grenada set sights on medals in Athletics at Pan American Games 2011

by Michael Bascombe

GUADALAJARA, Mexico, October 17, 2011 - Grenada’s hopes of medalling at the Pan American Games 2011 will now rest with athletics as both competitors in Swimming and Taekwondo failed to advance to the next round of their respective competitions.

Esau Simpson finished seventh in Heat 1 of the Men’s 100m Freestyle Preliminaries on Sunday while Andre St. Bernard lost in Bout 10 of the Women’s Under 67kg in the quarter-finals on Monday.

Simpson, swimming out of Lane 1, fell about six seconds off the winner, Brett Fraser of the Cayman Islands. Simpson, who finished 22^nd overall, clocked 54.73 seconds with 25.60 seconds for his first 50 metres.

World record holder Cesar Cielo of Brazil took the gold in a new personal record of 47.84 seconds, to better his previous best of 48.79 set in Rio de Janeiro four years ago. His world record stands at 46.91 seconds set in Italy in 2009.

In Taekwondo, St. Bernard was never a major threat to Carolina Acosta of Mexico and lost 11-2, all points earned by attack.

Acosta led 1-0 in the first quarter, 5-0 in the second and although St. Bernard fought back in the third quarter to score two points, Acosta added another five to tally 11.

St. Bernard is a bronze medallist at the 2008 Pan American Taekwondo Championships in Puerto Rico and also a second round contender at the 2008 Taekwondo World Cup in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Track and Field begin next week with Keron Toussaint (Men’s 400m) and Allison George (Women’s 100m) in competition next Monday (October 24). George will also compete in the Women’s 200m, while Kanika Beckles starts her campaign in the Women’s 400m on Tuesday (October 25) and Joel Redhead in the Men’s 200m on Wednesday (October 26).