by RJ Michaels

• ANOCES Track and Field Championships set for 4–5 July 2026 in St Kitts and Nevis
• Last event 9 years ago, Grenada’s women secured 5 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze medals
• Women’s team comprises Suerena Alexander, Cheffonia Houston, Shade John, Brinel Thomas, and Keishwanna Phillip

Grenada’s campaign at the upcoming Association of National Olympic Committees of the Eastern Caribbean Sports (ANOCES) Track and Field Championships will be spearheaded by a strong female contingent as the nation looks to continue to develop the next generation of track and field talent.

The championships, set for this weekend, 4–5 July 2026, will be contested at the Kim Collins Athletic Stadium in Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis. Widely regarded as the successor to the historic OECS Championships, this 2026 revitalisation is heavily funded by a new partnership with the Pan American Sports Organisation (Panam Sports). This collaboration is designed to provide an official developmental pathway for regional athletes, breathing life back into the sub-regional meet after a long hiatus since 2017.

When the event was last staged 9 years ago, Grenada’s women were the backbone of the team’s success. Of Grenada’s overall national haul of 8 gold medals, the women accounted for 5. They also secured 3 of the nation’s 4 silver medals and 4 of its 7 bronzes, setting a high bar for this year’s squad.

Leading Grenada’s charge in the field is Suerena Alexander, the reigning US National Junior College Javelin Champion. Alexander will contest both the javelin and discus, aiming to extend Grenada’s dominance in the javelin after Candesha Scott’s title-winning performance in 2017. Her presence signals Grenada’s continued strength in the throws.

Grenada’s 400m hopes rest on Cheffonia Houston, who will contest the 400m, the women’s 4x100m relay, and the mixed 4x400m relay. Houston brings elite relay pedigree, having helped set Grenada’s national mixed relay record in 2023 in the Bahamas. She steps into the role once held by Meleni Rodney, determined to keep Grenada’s 400m crown in familiar hands.

The sprints and jumps feature a wealth of young talent ready to make their mark including:

• Shade John: The reigning National Under-20 Sprint Champion who boasts personal bests of 11.70s in the 100m and 23.89s in the 200m

• Keishwanna Phillip: A versatile sprinter, Phillip will contest the 100m (12.01), the 4x100m relay, and the mixed 4x400m relay
• Brinel Thomas: Adds depth in the jumps, competing in the long jump and contributing to the 4x100m relay

Together, Grenada’s women will contest the 100m, 200m, 400m, long jump, discus, javelin, and the 4x100m relay, while playing pivotal roles in the mixed 4x400m relay.

While the women headline Grenada’s campaign, the men’s squad adds crucial balance and experience to the track and field delegation.

• Gamali Felix & Mathew Paul will contest the men’s 400m and look to secure Grenada’s first gold in the event. Both men also form a crucial part of the mixed 4 x 400m relay team
• Jayvoni Neckles strengthens Grenada’s throws division in the javelin and will look to continue Grenada’s dominance in the event, having never left an OECS Championship without a podium finish in the javelin

The delegation is led by Team Manager and Coach Danisha Brathwaite, alongside Coach Gary James, ensuring the squad benefits from seasoned guidance.

With junior college champions, national record holders, and proven relay competitors, Grenada fields a small but powerful team determined to underscore their presence on the newly revitalised sub-regional stage.

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