Grenadian athletes are continuing their build-up to the Tokyo Olympic Games, beginning July 23. Grenada’s first-ever Olympic Gold Medalist, Kirani James clocked 44.63 seconds to win the 400 meters in Wanda Stockholm Diamond League last Sunday. Trinidadian Deon Lendore was second in a time of 44.73 and Liemarvin Bonevaua of the Netherland third in 44.83.
Anderson Peters improved his season’s best to 83.46 metres competing at the Kuortane Games in Finland on June 26, 2021. He finished a distant fourth behind the winner, Germany’s Johannes Vetter, 93.59, Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago, 89.12 and Neeraj Chopper 86.79.
Both James and Peters are among four track and field athletes who will represent the Spice Isle in the rescheduled 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The others are Lindon Victor in the decathlon and the lone female 400 meters runner Melini Rodney.
Two swimmers, who did not achieve the qualifying standards, are awarded wildcards. They are Kimberly Ince in the women’s 100 meters backstroke and Delron Felix in the 100 meters men’s freestyle.
Coaches are Paul Phillip, throws; javelin; Harvey Glance, track; Valencia Nathaly Sihere, swimming,
Joshua Priester, decathlon; and Thomas Fitzsimon, pole vault. Team officials are Dr. Caroline Jane Noel
as Chief of Mission and Ralph James as team leader and COVID-19 Liaison Officer (CLO). Dr Earnest Ferrel is the physiotherapist.
This is Kirani James’ third Olympics. He won the 400 m gold medals at the World Athletics Championships in 2011 and the 2012 London Olympics.
Anderson Peters won the World Athletics Championship javelin in 2019 and broke the Pan-American Games record in the javelin, throwing 87.31m in Peru in 2019.
Melani Rodney participated in the 2014 Junior Olympics in Nanjing, China where she won Grenada’s first-ever Junior Olympic medal and Grenada’s first female athlete to win a medal at any Olympic level. She won the Bronze.
Rodney attends the University of Southern California recording impressive for the women’s 400 meters. Her best time is 53.26.
