Guyana’s chances of retaining their Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) Track & Field title may be in jeopardy after it was found that some of the nation’s top junior athletes are not affiliated to any institution of learning, one of the main criteria for selection for a junior championship.
The 26-man contingent was selected yesterday after trials on Sunday at Enmore Community Centre ground.
When the selection panel met it was discovered that sprint double winner and national schools’ champion Chaves Ageday (17), Nadine Rodrigues (18), who won the 200m and 400m on Sunday, and 1500m winner Jenella Jonas (17) were not attending any school. Carifta Games gold medalist Jevina Straker will not be able to defend her 800m title at the IGG since she is at present preparing to sit the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations in May at the Tutorial High School. The first leg of the championships is scheduled for Cayenne, (French Guiana) from March 26-28.
On the other hand, the replacement athletes will have a chance to stamp their mark on the IGG and eventually take podium positions. Young sprinters Tiffany Carto and Ianna Graham, high jumper, Maxsim Duncan, long and triple jumper, Winston Caesar and middle-distance athlete, Kevin Bailey, are expected to lead from the front.
Hopefully, the other athletes will feed off their efforts.
Amateur Athletics of Guyana (AAG) president Colin Boyce, said that it was regrettable that some of the top junior athletes will not be able to participate. He said that the team intends to depart Guyana on March 24 and currently the AAG was working to ensure that all other logistical issues are finalized so that the team can start training together to develop camaraderie. He pointed out that his association will be ensuring that all the athletes are vaccinated and have their international Yellow Fever certificate before they are permitted entry into French Guiana.
He further stated that if the athletes’ passports do not have at least a six-month lifespan until expiration they will not be granted entry to the country since the immigration office provides persons entering the country a six-month provisional.
Boyce said that the AAG is also looking to send three officials – Lyndon Wilson, Pamela Phillips and Robert Chisholm.
Wilson will also function as national coach while Guyana Defence Force athletics coach Chisholm will assist. Phillips will be Manager/Chaperone.
Guyana has won the athletics title for the past two years after they were unable to participate in 2007 due to the ICC Cricket World Cup in Guyana. Boyce said that accommodation will be taken care of by the host country and the National Sports Commission will look after the financing and travelling expenses for the athletes.
Male team: Sean Semple, Franken Mercurius, Stefan James, Kevin Bailey, Devon George, Tyshon Bentick, Jamal Chisolm, Winston Caesar, Maxsim Duncan, Jermaine Durant, Randolph Toney, Michael Bowman and Ryan Crandon.
Female team: Adama Roberts, Tiffany Carto, Ianna Graham, Shannah Thornhill, Keisha Grimes, Andrea Gibson, Carlisle Atkinson, Juanita Hooper, Marcia Isaacs, Latoya Douglas, Lisa Bowman, Onescia Byass and Shameeka Caesar.
