The race by sports associations to be the adjudged among the best over the past year could see Track and Field ending up in the “also ran” category despite the strenuous efforts of those in charge.
This is mainly because the sport continues to suffer from a lack of financial support not only from the business community but also from the government.
The government has been reluctant to commit itself to providing funding for the country’s elite athletes and to the disbursement of an annual grant to the national associations, including the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG).
It did, however, offer assistance with the erection of an important facility for track and field the Synthetic Track and Leonora work for which commenced in 2010.
Though Phase One of the construction of the synthetic track is yet to be completed, it is hoped that the facility will prove to be a shot in the arm for local athletes who should be able to produce improved performances which could possible lead to more international medals upon its completion.
In November, six bids were submitted for the second phase of the project.
Track and Field is arguably, alongside soccer, the most prominent sport in the world, yet it takes a back seat to cricket and football in Guyana with the government showing a direct interest in the latter two sporting disciplines especially in the area of funding.
The old saying “God helps those who help themselves,” might be probably why the government to date has not been an active supporter of the sport.
It stands to reason that if the governing body for Track and Field seems not to want progress then why should other organizations get involved.
This year, among the AAG run events only the Joint Services Sports, the Guyana Police Force Track and Field Championships, the President/Jefford Classic and to a lesser extent the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) championships received any major attention where marketing strategies for those particular events were concerned which no doubt went some way towards ensuring the overall success of those events.
International events
Guyanese athletes were represented in a number of international events including the Pan Am Games and the World Championships but the biggest performance of the year came from local quarter miler Winston George who clocked 45.01s at the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of our America (ALBA) Games.
It was later disclosed that the timing had qualified George for next year’s London Olympic Games.
The athletics contingent at the ALBA Games was the most successful of all the disciplines at the meet which was held in Venezuela.
Another outstanding achievement by a local athlete was junior quarter miler’s Stephan James run at the Junior Pan American Games in Miami, Florida where he created history by being the first junior athlete to reach a Pan American final.
James ended in sixth place in the tough assignment but rebounded by claiming bronze at the South American Junior Games in the 400 metres. Guyana did medal at the Pan American Juniors through long jumper Rolyce Boston who landed a bronze medal.
Guyana’s Aliann Pompey participated at this year’s World Championships in Daegu, Korea but failed to get past the first round by placing fifth in 59.53 seconds.
Pompey was to miss Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico from October 14-30 but athletes George and Adam Harris failed to distinguish themselves.
The Guyanese athletics team also reinstated their dominance at the Inter Guiana Games after losing the previous year to Suriname.
Local Championships
Back home, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) won the Joint Services Championships in October while the Police athletics Club won the AAG staged Under-23 Games.
Pompey did create her own bit of history when she participated for the first time on local since the new millennium at the President/Jefford’s Classic winning the 200m.
This year’s National Track and Field, Cycling, and Swimming championships was won by District 10.
The championships were sponsored heavily by Digicel with some support from the government but once again the championships did not live up to the expectations and the organizers have planned to do an extensive review with the aim of making major improvements to this year’s event.
Credit AAG
While the AGG must be credited for ensuring those athletes especially the juniors received chances to compete abroad along with affording the Guyanese public and the young athletes to see only the second Track and Field Olympian in the nation’s history and being able to field a winning IGG team, the lingering question still remains what’s next for athletics in Guyana, other than a couple of trips abroad and running on grass at home?
For 2012, which is the year for the staging of the London Olympic Games, it is important that the AAG plan ahead if Guyana is to have any type of impact on the international scene.
It is also essential that the synthetic track be completed sometime soon in order to have optimum performances and preparations by athletes.
