Vincy gold

Kineke Alexander became the first Vincentian to win a gold medal in the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) senior Track and Field championships, when she crossed the finish line first in the women’s 200 m.{{more}}

Alexander, competing in the XXIV edition of the games, crossed the finish line in the women’s 200 m in 23.00 seconds last Sunday, in Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico.

In the process, Alexander stung the much fancied Jamaican Aileen Bailey, 23.08s, into second place and the Dominican Republic’s Marielys Sanchez into third in 23.15.

This means that Alexander has attained the IAAF A standard for the event, and inked St Vincent and the Grenadines’ best showing at the senior championships.

In an interview with SEARCHLIGHT on Monday, Alexander said: “First off, I had no idea I was entered in the 200 m happy with the win… It was very surreal standing on the podium and hearing our (St Vincent and the Grenadines) national anthem”, Alexander said cheerfully.

Buoyant with her recent success, Alexander is looking forward to the World Championships, set for Moscow, Russia, in August.

The gold medal crowned off a good outing for the 27-year-old Alexander, who hails from Glenside in the Marriaqua Valley.

Alexander, a former student of the St Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua, also won a bronze medal in the 400 m.

The lone Vincentian to medal at the championships, Alexander clocked 52.81 seconds in that event, as she trailed Guyanese Kadecia Baird, 51.32 seconds and Chrissan Gordon of Jamaica, 52.52.

Alexander’s time was slower than her heats’ return of 52.33 seconds.

At the 2006 CAC championships held in Cartagena, Columbia, Alexander stopped the clock at 52.04 seconds, winning a bronze medal.

Her best time though, over the distance is 51.35 seconds, which is also the standing St Vincent and the Grenadines record. This was achieved in 2006 at the NCAA championship in the USA, while she was a student at the Iowa University.

Also representing St Vincent and the Grenadines at last weekend’s CAC championships was Delhonni Samuel-Nicol, who placed fourth in the 1500 m. Samuel-Nicol’s time was 4 minutes 06.82 seconds.

Meanwhile, Courtney Williams, who donned the Vincentian colours, could only manage 10.60 seconds in the 100 meters. This time could not get him past the heats, as it was ranked 26th.(RT)