After carting away the first and third place prizes in the 2007 Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) International Olympic Day Team Run, the Progressive Youth Club Police are preparing to do even better this Sunday and has already entered three teams.
PYC coach Lynden Wilson told Stabroek Sport yesterday that he felt his club had a very good chance to dominate the event once again this year.
“We stand a very good chance of not only doing what we did last year but to do better, because we have gained a lot of valuable experience after capturing the first ever event like that last year,” he said.
Wilson added that although he felt that the competition would be a bit tougher this year, as many teams from out-of-town (Berbice and possibly Linden) would be participating, he was still confident in his athletes.
The PYC coach’s confidence is built on the fact that most of the athletes who participated in the run last year will be returning this Sunday.
The format of the event allows three male and three female athletes of the same club or sports fraternity, to form one team and complete the 10 kilometre course in the fastest combined time. After totalling the individual times of all six athletes, the team having completed the course in the fastest total time wins.
The male athletes on the Police `A’ team this year are the same as last year with Denis Horatio, Larry Josiah and Kiev Chesney all trying to enter the winners’ circle once more, while a few changes in the female lineup would see Stacy Wilson, Shabiki Prince and Samantha Williams in contention.
PYC have also entered a ‘B’ and ‘C’ squad with Ray Innis, Patrick King, Derwin Eastman, Damien ‘Scientist’ Blackman, Orwin Corlette, Carlwyn Collins, Tisha Grimes, Gaylene Doris, Donna April, Gwenette Innis and Kemwattie Persaud.
Wilson also mentioned that his club may also be entering a fourth squad in Sunday’s race. The closing date for all entries is midday tomorrow.