By Trevor Thwaites (St. George's correspondent)

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada: Local 400 meters star Alleyne Francique is aiming to be the best ever in his pet event. He might not better the 43.18 seconds by the great Michael Johnson of the United States, but he hopes to be more consistent.“ My goal is not to lower the 43.18 mark, but to be consistent. I want to be remembered as the most consistent quarter-miler in the world,” Francique, the US based professional told Spice Isle Review last week, while on vacation.

Francique is confident that the goal can be realized, because has been consistently hitting the 44 seconds mark. “I think I have run about thirty 44’s in my career, which I think is pretty good. Francique is currently rated at number 5 in the world. But he hopes to regain the top spot as he did in 2004, when he won 12 of 14 races and finished second in a remarkable year. His best time to date is 44.4 seconds, which saw him grab the gold medal in Osaka Japan in 2004

He is hoping to lower the mark this year. “My goal is to run 44.2, 44.3. Already he won the World Indoor Championship in Moscow in a time of 44.54, which saw him achieve the rear feat of retaining his title. Francique also picked up the country’s first medal – silver at the 2005 Commonwealth
Games in Melbourne Australia. He will also be seeking gold at the CAC Championships in Colombia. The lanky quarter miler is focusing on competing in the lucrative golden leagues this year.

Francique also has his sights set on representing the America’s as the top quarter-miler in the World Cup for Athletics Event in Athens Greece from September 17th-19th, 2006. The name of the athlete will be announced on August 23rd. “That is my goal; representing the Americas and the Caribbean will be big for me and Grenada. Some of the world’s leading athletes will be returning to the home of the Olympics for the big event in September. “I am really looking forward that event,” he said.



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