James, Stafford cop Grenada sports awards

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada,  CMC – Olympic 400 metres champion Kirani James copped his fifth straight National Sports Award at a ceremony here on Saturday.

James defeated a field of 10 other male nominees for the 2013 Male Sports Personality of Grenada after winning titles in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

The selection panel also chose teenage swimmer Oreoluwa Cherebin as the Female Sports Personality.

James won 400m titles at IAAF Diamond Leagues in Shanghai, Paris and London, and finished behind American LaShawnMerritt in Eugene, Oregon. However, he was seventh at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Moscow last August.

Cherebin, 15, is Grenada’s most successful swimmer especially among her age group. She has dominated local swimming events and was the most outstanding female swimmer at the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) championships in St Lucia.

Cherebin completed 2013 with four OECS and nine national swimming records.

The awards ceremony, organised by the Grenada Olympic Committee, also awarded West Indies cricketer Preston Mcsween (Junior Sportsman) and Rennisha Stafford (Junior Sportswoman) and Special Service awards to former 400m national record holder Donald Pierre and multi-sports competitor Joseph Cummings.