The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS)/Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) Independence half marathon gets underway tomorrow and Permananent Secretary within th ministry Alfred King said he is hopeful that the event becomes a regional one by the year 2016.
The joint-venture was made official Thursday morning at the Ministry’s Main Street conference room in the presence of King, Admin Officer Gervy C. Harry, AAG Vice President Gavin Hope and National Sports Commission director Neil Kumar.
The resuscitated half marathon which has prizes totalling in excess of $700,000 is scheduled to start at 5:30hrs from the Jerricks Funeral Home, Paradise, East Coast Demerara and conclude in front of the Ministry on Main Street, Georgetown.
King, speaking at the press conference commended the efforts of the NSC, the AAG and friends of the AAG. He said that the event is a part of the calendar of activities that will celebrate Guyana’s 47th Independence anniversary.
“Those who have been following closely would know that we have got quite a lot to celebrate not only in terms of economic and other developments but also in the field of sports. There are lots of celebrations that we would want to make sure we recognise and participate in,” the Permanent Secretary said.
The former athlete stated that the event has potential for sports tourism.
“Once organised in a proper way we should also try to get it affiliated with the International Athletics Federation so that they too can put this down as a calendar activity where they will encourage affiliated and registered members to participate,” he said.
King said he was hoping that the Independence half marathon becomes a regional event within the next three years.
“It can help us celebrate our 50th Anniversary as an independent country,” he said.
He said that he would like to see more associations apart from athletics participating in the event.
“They should use this opportunity to bring out all their registered players to enjoy a good day of physical training and fitness, participating in a national activity,” he added.
Hope said that the event will be better this year stating that a digital clock will be used to time the athletes’ performance during the race.
“The athletes will have accurate time,” Hope said.
Hope also said that he would like the event to become regional by 2016, the next Olympic year. He said that the AAG along with the MCYS and NSC will be working to achieve that goal within the three year period.
Kumar said he was pleased to be associated with the event and expressed the hope that it would be successful.
Apart from US-based Euleen Josiah-Tanner, Stabroek Sport was told that Suriname’s Guillermo Udenhour will compete in the half marathon. Udenhour, an athlete in the master’s category, told this publication that it will be his second half marathon.
The athlete from the neighbouring country said he expects a good performance in the race while adding that his personal best in a marathon is 2:49.00.
Josiah-Tanner is presently preparing to defend her title. Last year, she won the event in 01:29:47. Also expected to compete and defend his title in the open male category is Cleveland Forde. The participants’ list includes Samuel Kaitan, Kelvin Johnson, Lionel D’Andrade, Police Progressive Youth Club’s Kevin Bayley, Jowyne Johnson and Nathaniel Giddings.
The two main categories of the half marathon are the Open and Masters (female and male). First place finishers in the Open male and female segments will pocket $75,000 each, while the victors of the Masters category (40-55 years, 55 and over and over 35 years for women) will receive $50,000.
The other four finishers in the Open category will win $60,000, $45,000, $30,000 and $20,000, while second and third finishers in the Masters will receive $30,000 and $20,000 respectively.
All competitors and officials are required to report to the MCYS before 4:00hrs.
