Kineke plans to pick up the pace

Fresh from earning St. Vincent and the Grenadines its first ever medal at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, 20-years-old Kineke Alexander has no intention of slowing up. There will be no day-dreaming as she basks in the glory of her achievements, because by June 2007 she intends to be clocking 50:02 in her pet 400m races.

In an interview last Monday, August 7, Kineke made her intention crystal clear. As she looks forward to her upcoming junior year in College, Kineke is quite focused on the various challenges that are before her and is looking forward to taking them on.{{more}}

Even as she just declared her double major in History and International Studies, Kineke told SEARCHLIGHT that she is passing all her exams and getting the necessary tutoring wherever it is needed. “I am doing very well in Spanish, I love Spanish,” she revealed admitting that her love for the language was fuelled when she lived with St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Ambassador to Cuba Dexter Rose and his Cuban wife, her former teacher Lotier Rose.

Kineke captured the bronze medal at the CAC games held in Cartagena, Colombia, with a time of 52:04, behind gold medalist Ana Gueva of Mexico and second placed Hazel Ann Regis of neighbouring Grenada. This is one of a long, growing list of athletic achievements for the outstanding Glenside, Mesopotamia athlete, who is also the NCAA indoors 400 metre champion, the first such achievement for her school, the University of Iowa (Hawkeyes). Her 51:35 clocking that earned her second place in the NCAA outdoors championship is her personal best and the national record.

Insisting that she doesn’t let her growing fame get to her head, Kineke confessed with a shy smile, that she is treated like a star back at school. There is, however, stern determination to stay away from negative influences that can easily invade school athletes’ lives. “I surround myself with positive friends and we feed off each other’s positive energy,” explained Alexander.

As for her future in track, Kineke has her mind set on the 2008 Summer Olympics Games in Beijing, China. But even before that, Kineke is preparing for the 15th Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in July 2007, followed by the World Championships in Osaka, Japan in August the same year.

The outstanding Hawkeye continues to be grateful to the late Sister Patricia Ann Douglas (Sis Pat) former Principal, and all the teachers of her alma mater St. Joseph Convent, Marriaqua, her mother Delia Diamond, her relatives and Ambassador Dexter and Lotier Rose for helping her reach as far as she has come so far.

As Kineke sets her eyes on landing a lucrative Addidas sporting contract in the not too distant future, she is adamant that no matter her successes she will remain humble. And for all the young men who may be harbouring fantasies of dating a track star, sorry, Kineke is not available, “I am taken.”