Middle-distance athlete Alika Morgan is appealing to the public for sponsorship to enable her to attend the Junior Carifta Games billed for April 7-10 in Turks and Caicos.
The 15-year-old runner-up Junior Sportswoman for 2005 and 2006 is in need of G$376,000 which includes meals and hotel accommodation expenses to attend the Carifta Games in Turks and Caicos.
“It is very difficult to get sponsorship from companies,” said Morgan. She added that over the past four years she had been receiving assistance from GT&T, Cops Security and De Sinco Trading but that was not enough.
Morgan’s coach, Leslie Blacks, told Stabroek Sport that sponsorship was the basic problem with athletics.
He contended that the focus was not so much on athletics and as a result, the athletes are treated poorly.
Blacks said that he sent a letter to GT&T requesting sponsorship and was now awaiting a response.
Morgan did not get to participate in the Junior Carifta Games in Guadeloupe last year because, as the only female among four boys to attend the games, she did not have an escort.
“I think Alika was robbed out of two gold medals by her not attending the Junior Carifta Games last year,” Blacks said.
Additionally, in 2006, Morgan copped 28 gold medals, five silver and three bronze medals. She has accomplished a total of 110 miles in competitions, excluding training and has performed at both junior and senior levels with outstanding results.
She ended 2006 by gaining the silver medal in the CARICOM 10,000km championship and is currently the local 800m champion.
Blacks added that he felt confident that if Morgan was given the opportunity to attend the games this year, she would bring home gold medals.