Big strides for local sprinter

Vincentian born Kineke Alexander has been nominated Iowa’s Big Ten female Athlete of the Year. That follows a host of impressive performances during this year. But her coach James Grant is optimistic that with continued training, Alexander would be in the final of the 400M at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.{{more}}

Alexander forced herself into the Iowa’s nomination with a string of successes during her first year at that institution.

She crowned it with a bronze medal at the Central American and Caribbean Games staged at Cartagena Columbia in July this year.

Her time was 52.04 seconds when Mexican Ana Guevera took gold in 50.99 seconds.

Kineke a former St. Joseph Convent Marriaqua student caught Grant’s attention from age 15 while at the very CAC Games. Her progress has been steady and aided by her stint at Iowa has been improving. Grant pointed out “she is very coachable, she listens and she adapts very well to her races.”