CASTRIES, St Lucia, Dec 16 (GrenadaSports) - Grenada’s top swimmer Tuesday Watts is the female OECS Sports Personality of the Year. Watts was among top performers in the OECS during 2004 and she was an overwhelming choice from a panel of sports journalists who met at the Auberge Seraphin Hotel in Castries St Lucia on Wednesday 15th December. Vincentian distance runner Pamenos Ballentyne who only last weekend won the OECS Half Marathon in Grenada took away the male sports personality award. Tuesday’s performances in 2004 were second to none. At the RHAC meet in St Lucia she won 9 gold medals setting 9 new meet records, at the Barbados Aquatic Center International meet she won 6 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze and established 4 new meet records,. At the Carifta swimming championship held in the Bahamas, she won 5 gold medals and broke the 400m freestyle record, at the Caribbean Island Swimming Championships held in Jamaica which also included teams from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic she won 3 gold and 1 bronze medal, smashing once again the 400m freestyle record and if that was not enough at the OECS Invitational meet held in St Lucia she rounded it off by winning 8 gold medals, setting 7 new meet records. Honorable mentions for the ladies are Dominica’s Sabina Christmas…track & field, performances at Carifta, Whitsuntide Games and OECS Relays. St Vincent’s Cordell Jack…cricket, MVP at West Indies U-23 tournament and West Indies championship. St Lucia’s Natasha George….swimming, performances at Carifta and OECS meets. St Vincent’s Joanna Christopher…netball, MVP OECS Champion of Champions. St Lucia’s Delia Samuel…..netball, performances at Helen of the West, OECS and Carib tournaments. Ballantyne had another outstanding year as he proved once again that he is the undisputed king of the road in the Caribbean and his dedication to fitness and race preparation makes him a shining example to the young and upcoming distance athletes in his country as well as throughout the region. In 2004 Pamenos won gold in the following events. The Trinidad & Tobago Marathon, the Reggae marathon in Jamaica, the Mayaro 15K in Trinidad, the Arouca 10K in Trinidad, the St Vincent and the Grenadines 10K and ended the year with his ninth victory in the OECS NEMWIL half marathon which was held in Grenada. Honorable mentions for the men are Antigua’s track sprinter Daniel Bailey…performances at Carifta Games. Grenada’s opening batsman Devon Smith….regional performances. St Vincent’s football general Kendol Velox…regional performances. Grenada’s 400m track specialist Alleyne Francique….sub 45 seconds in the 400m at the Whitsuntide Games. St Vincent’s James Bentick OECS Male Squash champion… performances at OECS and regional championships. St Lucia’s distance running champion Victor Ledgers…winning the Barbados and Martinique marathons and second in the OECS NEMWIL half marathon. This is the first time the OECS Sports Desk is hosting an award for the most outstanding OECS male and female athletes and was based on performances in events held in the Caribbean during 2004. In the early part of 2004 a panel of regional journalist was formed to follow the OECS athletes performances in OECS and Caribbean events, the members of the panel comprised Brian Mc Donald (St Lucia), Colin James (Antigua & Barbuda), Michael Bascombe (Grenada), William “Kojah” Anthony (St Vincent), Curtis Mathew (Dominica), Whadalma “Rass B” Brooks (Anguilla), Lance Whitaker (CMC), Joseph Reds Perreira (Sports Consultant and founder of the OECS Sports Desk) and OECS Sports Coordinator David Peterkin. Reprinted from Grenadasports.com