Munroe puzzled, saddened by non-selection
One of Guyana’s top female sprinters believes that she should have been named on the Guyana athletics team to the inaugural Caribbean Games scheduled for next month in Trinidad and Tobago.
Twenty-two-year Old Dianne Munroe, who is at present competing at the College level in the United States of America where she has been putting in some outstanding performances since departing in 2005 yesterday told Stabroek Sports that she was perplexed and
saddened by the omission.
“I’m kind of confused more than disappointed right now because, I was contacted by Mr. Blackmore (Claude) via email and was asked to send in my time and this since before the South American seniors which I did and I was told that they couldn’t find my name any wear which is really strange, you know, the 100 and 200-metre specialist told Stabroek Sports yesterday via telephone.
The Guyana Olympic Association on Wednesday named a 28-member contingent for next month’s Caribbean Games.
“When the Caribbean Games came up I was so excited and my coach kept asking me what’s up with Guyana and the games because we had our plans already with training and so on.
“But then I don’t know but nothing was mentioned of me. All I’m seeing and hearing in the news is about Alicia (Fortune) and my times are far better and below the qualifying standards for the games.
“I had my mind set on running at that meet you know; to represent your country at this level is an honour but like I said, I really want to know what is going on.
“I’ve been doing so well over here you know, doing my best among some of the best in nation, but still…” she added.
Munroe’s personal best time in the 100 metres is 11.27 seconds and the qualifying time for the Caribbean Games is 11.50 seconds.
The qualifying time for the 200 metres is 23.80 seconds and Munroe’s personal best in that event is 23.62 seconds.
“I ran 23.27s at the opening of the season here and also this year I ran the 23.62s in the 200m. As a matter of fact, I’m 22 in the nation in the 100 metres for this year, so I’m very disappointed,” Munroe said.
Stabroek Sports tried yesterday to make contact with president of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) Colin Boyce but failed.
This year, Munroe will be completing her Degree in Criminal Law and Minor in English Bethune-Cookman University at Daytona Beach Florida.
Out of the eight persons who will be representing Guyana in the field of athletics only three Alika Morgan, Cleveland Forde and Kelvin Johnson are locally- based.
The others who reside and compete in the USA are Adam Harris, Lee Prowell, Marian Burnett, Aliann Pompey and Jeremy Bascomb.