Guyana’s Aliann Pompey will not be able to add a Pan American Games medal to the gold and silver she has won at two Commonwealth Games.
President of the Athletics Association of Guyana Colin Boyce yesterday told Stabroek Sport that Pompey will not be representing Guyana at the Pan American Games to be held from October 14 – 30 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
According to Boyce, the 400m specialist will be a no show at the games as she is suffering from an injury to her Achilles tendon and has opted out of attending the games.
Pompey had qualified to participate in the women’s 400m at the games.
“She [Pompey] has an injury that contributed to her performance at the World Championships.
“She has an injury to her left Achilles tendon, and as such, she has taken some time off,” Boyce told Stabroek Sport yesterday afternoon.
This means that Guyana will only be represented by local athlete Winston George, and overseas-based athletes Adam Harris and Lee Powell, in track and field at the games.
The team will be accompanied by manager Sheryl Ann Hermanstine.
Hermanstine and George are scheduled to depart Guyana next week Friday while Harris and Powell are expected to depart the United States of America (USA) around the same time.
Where expectations are concerned, Boyce said that the association was looking for Harris and Powell to make it to the finals of the men’s 100m.
Harris and Powell both made the 10.38s qualifying time for that event.
According to Boyce, Harris is said to have qualified for the event earlier this year at a meet in Brazil, Powell made his qualifying time since last year at a meet in the US.
“The thing with Adam and Lee is that I expect them to at least get into the finals. I don’t know for sure if Adam is back to the top of his game, but they both made the 10.38s to qualify, so I’m hoping that they at least get past the semi finals and make it into the finals, beyond that I’m not sure how they will do because they will have to do a lot of work. It will not be easy because from my understanding a lot of persons will be going to Pan Am with the view of using it to qualify for the Olympics in London next year, and a lot of people who performed at the World Championships will be there, so they will have to do a lot of work,” Boyce said
As it relates to George, Boyce said he would not be able to make a full assessment of the lad’s capabilities until this weekend, and then he will be able to estimate what can be expected. Boyce said this was so because George had suffered an injury while performing at the recent Police Athletics Championships.
“He [George] suffered a minor injury at the Police Athletics Championships. He is now recovering from it, he is not 100% fit as yet. He is now back training and I would say I would be able to give a thorough assessment of him by this weekend,” Boyce added.
George will be participating in the men’s 200m and 400m.
According to Boyce, he had qualified for the two events with his performances at the Alba Games held in Venezuela, earlier this year.
The three athletes are expected to be in action on October 24, Powell and Harris in their men’s 100m heats and George in his men’s 400m heats. George will also have the men’s 200m heats on October 26.
Apart from athletics, at the Games Guyana is also expected to be represented in squash, rugby, swimming and taekwondo.
Swimmers Britany van Lange and Niall Roberts, along with their coach and team manager Stephanie Fraser left last Tuesday for the games.
Also travelling Tuesday last was squash player Nicolette Fernandes and Guyana’s taekwondo representative David Rajjab. Rajjab travelled from Canada, while Fernandes also travelled out of Guyana.
The rugby team is expected to be leaving on Monday. The rugby team will play teams from Uruguay, the United States and the hosts, Mexico at the Tlaquepaque Stadium.
