Kineke Alexander accepts 2013 Sports Personality award with ‘thanks’

Having been toasted as St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Sports Personality for 2013, Kineke Alexander, acknowledges that she is very thankful for the accolade.{{more}}

Alexander, a sprint athlete, was announced as the 2013 Sports Personality, at the National Sports Awards, which was held last Saturday night at the lavish Spring Garden, Spring Estate.

Taking the overall and most prestigious award on the night was just one of Alexander’s titles, as she was also the obvious choice for the Senior Sportswoman of the Year.

Based in the United States of America, Alexander was not on hand to claim her prizes, but expressed to SEARCHLIGHT her appreciation.

“Right now, am very grateful for being recognized and must first thank God for all his favour… I also want thank my family for their support and Team Athletics SVG for all they have done so far and continue to do,” Alexander said.

“I wouldn’t have won a single race or even gotten my times if it weren’t for the training I’ve received, so I want to thank my coach, also the people of St Vincent (and the Grenadines) who have always been behind me cheering me on. .. Thank you!” Alexander continued with her expression of gratitude.

Reflecting on what she has termed as her best year in track and field thus far, Alexander noted “…2013 was an exceptional year for me, mainly because I got injured at the Olympics the year before and 2013 would have been my second season training with a new coach… nevertheless I licked my wounds from London and got healthy. My body got used to the rigorous training routines and I saw some great results for the indoor and outdoor season.”

And, it was more than celebration for Alexander, last Saturday, as she was also named Team Athletics SVG’s Athlete of the Year, as well as the Senior Female Athlete for 2013.

Alexander, who celebrates her 28th birthday, today Friday, February 21, gained a gold and a bronze medal at the XXIV hosting of the 2013 Central American and Caribbean track and field championships, which took place in Morelia, Mexico in July.

She won the 200m and was third in the 400m, thus becoming the first Vincentian to fish out a gold medal at the championships.

After clocking 23.09 in the 200m heats, Alexander went better in the final, as she did a time of 23.00 seconds, which became her personal best.

In the process, she saw off the much touted Jamaican Aileen Bailey, who trailed her in second spot.

Reports say that had it not been for poor race strategy, Alexander could have also claimed gold in the final of the 400m.

Alexander, a former student of the St Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua, ran the fastest time in the heats – that of 52.33 seconds, and was the odds on favourite for the top spot, but finished third in the final.

Before that Alexander claimed gold in the 200m and 400m at the OECS Invitational in St Kitts in June.

Currently, Alexander is preparing for the World Indoor championships in Poland.(RT)