President of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) Claude Blackmore yesterday in the presence of AAG Secretary Pamela Phillips declared that the sixth annual South American 10K will be run off on October 26 with participants from a number of South American and Caribbean countries participating.
The event, which is sanctioned by the International Amateur Athletics Associa-tion (IAAF), will have three categories – men and women (Open), junior (boys and girls 14-20) and masters (men 40-49 and 50-59).
Top finishers for men and women will receive US-$1,000, US$600, US$400, US$300 and US$200 for first to fifth respectively while junior boys and girls will receive US$300, US$200 and US$100 for first, second and third places respectively. Cash incentives will also go along with trophies for the top finishers.
Blackmore indicated to the press that the increase in cash incentives was aimed at sparking more participation in the event.
And, regarding participation, he said he had sent out invitations to the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) in order to get more youths involved.
He has also sent invitations to several corporate entities to trigger participation along the line of the masters category.
Invitations have also been sent to areas such as Corentyne, New Amsterdam, Bartica, East Coast and West Coast to ensure an almost countrywide participation. Should these athletes accept the invitation they will be accommodated at the AAG’s expense.
Participants will compete along the same route as last year’s event commencing at 4pm from the Police Sports Club (one lap around the track) then exiting through the eastern gate into Barrack Street, south along Camp Road, then west into Lamaha Street, north along High Street, east along Seawall Road, south along Camp Road then along Carifesta Avenue proceeding into Rupert Craig Highway on the northern carriageway and turning by Conversation Tree to head back to the Police Sports Club.
From Conversation Tree the runners will head south along the southern carriageway onto Kitty Public Road, south on Vlissengen Road, west on Thomas Lands, south on Camp Road into Barrack Street through the exit gate and back onto the ground to finish in front of the pavilion.
This competition will be run under the close watch of Competitions Director Shirley Hooper who took over from the recently deceased Edward Singh.
The South American 10K was launched in 2003 and it was done to allow the three countries in South America that do not have a synthetic track (Guyana, Panama and Suriname) to host an IAAF event.
Brazil’s Gustavo Altez and Antonia Silva won the 2007 South American 10K men and women Open in 32:34.00s and 38:47.00s respectively while Guyana’s Dennis Horatio and Janella Jonas won the junior boys and girls in 35:07.00s and 44:09.00s respectively.