PAM's Leader congratulates quartet
BASSETERRE, St Kitts – THE tiny twin-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has once again demonstrated that its athletes can compete with those from the larger countries and the best the world can offer, as they captured Bronze today (Sept. 4) in the in the Men’s 4X100m Relay of the IAAF World Championships.
News coming out of Daegu, South Korea states that team St. Kitts-Nevis clocked a time of 38.49 seconds, 0.02 seconds slower than the national record in the heats, to take the Bronze medal.
This is the first time in the history of the IAAF World Championships that St. Kitts and Nevis had made it to the finals.
The squad was comprised of Jason Rogers, Collins, Antoine Adams Brijesh Lawrence and the ageless Kim Collins, who last week had given the Federation its first medal at this year's championships when he clocked 10.09 seconds in the Men’s 100m, making him the world’s third fastest man.
The race was however won by Jamaica in 37.04 seconds, breaking the World Record of 37.10 seconds its athletes set in the 2008 Olympic, while France took Silver in 38.20 seconds.
In his congratulatory message, on behalf of his party’s executive and membership along with the nationals and resident of St. Kitts and Nevis, Leader of the People’s Action Movement Lindsay Grant said, “The achievement of these young men on the World stage shows the determination and fortitude which is characteristic of the Kittitian and Nevisian spirit which suggests that discipline, will, courage, heart and mettle can overcome humble beginnings and result in World Class success and achievements.
“The performance of the team in the World Championship relay finals as well as Kim Collins performance throughout the entire championships has made us proud to be Kittitians and Nevisians and no doubt people of the Caribbean.”
Grant also noted that the quartet’s success would undoubtedly be an inspiration to young people not only in the Federation but throughout the Caribbean region.
“This,” he added, “is extremely important as the very existence of our young people, particularly our young men, in St. Kitts-Nevis is being threatened by crime and violence and it is achievement like these which will help to inspire and to influence a change of direction for many of our wayward youths.”
Grant chided the government to seriously consider and embrace the economic opportunities that the performance at the World Games could bring to the Federation.
“This is another proud moment in the history of St. Kitts-Nevis and it provides our country with yet another golden opportunity. And I would encourage, in fact chide the government, to embrace these performances as an achievement for all of us and not just some, and we all should significantly nurture the economic benefits it could bring to our besieged economy.”
In congratulating the athletes, management and the entire entourage, Grant said, “I must also extend congratulations to the entire SKN contingent including management and coaches as well as the local SKNAAA and NOC by extension, as they would have no doubt provided the necessary moral, spiritual, technical and financial support necessary .The whole of St. Kitts-Nevis rejoices as we once again prove that we small but we tallawah.”
