ST.GEORGE’S, Grenada, Thursday December 27, 2012 - Reigning World and Olympic 400 metres champion, Kirani James, and ace middle distance runner, Neisha Bernard-Smith, are front runners for Grenada’s top sports personalities of 2012, a popular sports website has predicted.

GrenadaSports, run by veteran New York based Grenadian sports journalist Michael Bascombe, is favouring James and Bernard–Smith to take the top award at the sports award ceremony carded for January 26th.

James sparked massive celebrations across Grenada and in the Diaspora after creating history by winning the country’s first medal at the summer Olympics in London.

“There is no doubt that (Kirani) James’ exploits in 2012 surpasses any other local achievement,” said GrenadaSports.

“He could easily pick up any and all awards at stake in the annual ceremony held to recognise outstanding sporting achievements,”

If James takes the sportsman of the year award in January this will be the fourth consecutive year for the 20 year-old who also copped the national award in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Bernard-Smith, who will turn 32 the same week of the awards ceremony, defied age and in June, attained a “B” Standard qualifying time of 2:01.21 in the Women’s 800m for the London Olympic Games. She eventually reached the semi-finals of the event with a season’s best 2:00.68.

“Granted her age and demands of the 800m, Neisha surpassed expectations in 2012 to qualify and then progressed to the semis,” GrenadaSports reported.

The Grenada Olympic Committee (GOC), organizers of the annual sports awards ceremony, is expected to release the list of nominees in early January.