A seven member team from the University of Guyana’s Track and Field Club is set to participate at the 28th biennial University of West Indies Inter-Campus Championship at the UWI Mona Bowl for Sporting Excellence from May 21-30.
So says Head Coach of the newly formed Track and Field Club, Anson Ambrose.
Ambrose yesterday told this newspaper that the team, which comprises one junior athlete, will represent Guyana at the championship which started in the 1960’s.
The athletes are Inter-Guiana Games gold medalist, Ornesto Thomas (junior), National Schools Championship record holder Carlwyn Collins, sprinter Kenneth Semple, middle distance athlete, Wayne Harlequin, Owen Adonis, Philip Drayton and Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) 200m national junior champion Elton Bollers who is the team captain.
According to Ambrose, the team was selected following time trials held at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary earlier this month.
Ambrose said he decided to use the Inter-Campus Championship as an opportunity for his athletes to have some form of international competition.
“Well we would have understood what is going on…we are not comfortable that is why we are trying to have exposure for the athletes knowing there is not much local competition,” said the 44-year-old coach.
Despite the present issues surrounding athletics, Ambrose said that he is hopeful that the athletes will put their best foot forward at the games which is expected to feature some of the best athletes in the Caribbean.
The UG athletes (Semple/Adonis [100m]; Bollers [200m]; Collins [400m]; Harlequin/Thomas [800m] are set to take starting orders in their respective events on May 25 at Campus facility.
The team will also compete in the Open male 4x100m and 4x400m relays.
Among the competing campuses are defending champions Cave Hill from Barbados, UWI Mona and Trinidad and Tobago.
According to the Jamaica Observer (online), the championship has attracted over 500 student-athletes.
The team will depart Guyana on Thursday with their coach and Team Manager Lavern Fraser-Thomas.
