Kineke qualifies for NCAA regional

Kineke Alexander continued to show form and fitness over the weekend producing at the 96th Annual Drake Relay. In a special heat of the 400 meter open, the Vincentian freshman standout finished in a time of 54.94 to qualify for the upcoming National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regional meet. {{more}}

It was a slower than usual time for the lanky 400 meter specialist but she was not worried. Alexander told SEARCHLIGHT Sunday that her slower time was due to bad race scheduling. Her specialty 400 meters was run just about five minutes following her team’s participation in the 4 X 100 event. She was still able to hold her own over the distance to finish a respectable third.

Only three weeks ago the former St. Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua and national champion produced the fastest time of the day to establish a new national record with 52.19. That was in her first outdoor event for the season staged in California.

Competing with her University of Iowa Hawkeyes Team, she teamed up with Tiffany Johnson, Ashley Granger and her Jamaican roommate Peaches Roach in the 4 X100 to secure a place in the prestigious NCAA Regional. They ran a time of 45.30 in the finals, good enough for seventh place and a spot in the NCAA meet.

Alexander’s teammates also registered good performances. Peaches Roach jumped to a bronze medal in a special flight of the high jump by clearing 5-9.75. Also, senior Andy Banse tossed 61-2.75 in his special flight of the shot put. Alexander, Roach, and Banse all qualified for the NCAA Regional meet in their respective events.

The Hawkeyes next compete in the 2005 Big Ten Outdoor Championships hosted by Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, on May 13-15. Alexander is looking forward to carrying the St. Vincent and the Grenadines flag at the Pan-American Games to be held in Canada in August.