United States of America-based distance athlete Euleen Josiah-Tanner is critical of last Sunday’s Banks DIH-sponsored, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MYCS)/Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) Independence Half Marathon.
In an interview with Stabroek Sport Josiah-Tanner said the event “lacked the level of organization needed to have a smooth and effective run and coordination between athletes and the organizing body.”
The distance queen, who successfully defended her title, stressed that the organizers need to make better preparations and do more ‘ground-work’ to have an effective race in the future.
She insisted that improvements should be made on the starting time especially for a half marathon which is of a distance of 21.0975km. According to her, the race, which was schedule to commence at 5:30am, started some minutes after 6am.
“The race should have started earlier,” Josiah-Tanner bemoaned adding…”especially if they (the organizers) are looking to get a very competitive run with fast times. They need to start the race on time”.
She added that the bus to transport the participants was behind schedule and when it finally arrived all of the athletes were unable to board since it was too small.
“The bus was late and there were not enough buses for the athletes,” said the defending champion.
The Courts 10k winner also told Stabroek Sport that the feeding points this year paled in comparison to last year’s points as she remembered having Gatorade and watermelons as opposed to water alone during this year’s event. Josiah-Tanner admitted that there were enough water stations but also highlighted the fact that no fuel or food stations existed during the race which commenced from Paradise and concluded on Main Street.
“There was no fuel station such as Gatorade or PowerAde or food stations such as bananas, oranges or watermelons to help the athletes replace lost fuels,” commented the 38-year-old.
The 5’3 athlete said the stations did not hinder her performance since she was not running competitively but thought it delayed other athletes who were competing meaningfully. She recalled athletes complaining of muscles spasms and cramps.
“I think it hindered other athletes because some were complaining of cramps and muscle strains in their legs.”
Josiah Tanner pointed out that there are four feeding stations in the United States during a 10k road race adding that each station is one mile and half apart.
“They have Gatorade and water at each stations and there are like a mile and half apart,” she said.
It was mentioned at the presentation ceremony of the half marathon that the MYSC and AAG will be collaborating a marathon in the latter part of the year. Josiah-Tanner at the ceremony voiced for improvement in the incentives. She told Stabroek Sport that she was concerned as to how the AAG/MYCS will successfully run a marathon.
“They need to make the money right because they would want the support. I think it would be a challenge for them. It would be a financial challenge but if they do what they need to do, it would be a success,” she stated.
The Police Progressive Youth Club athlete continued by saying a full marathon will require more feeding stations. She advised for water and Gatorade at every 2-mile and fruits every 5k.
“It is important for the athletes to have all these different things and most athletes do not go hydrated before the race. I usually hydrate heavily a month before my race along with my B12 shots,” she noted. The athlete, who trains with the South Fulton Running Partners in the USA, said that she hopes that the necessary ‘ground-work’ will be done to attract more athletes in such events given that athletics is a profession.
Josiah-Tanner thanked the National Sport Commission (NSC) Director Neil Kumar, Minister of Youth, Culture and Sports (MYCS) Dr. Frank Anthony and Admin Officer Gervy C. Harry for overcoming the challenges in hosting the event.
Meanwhile, Leslie Black, co-coordinator of the Independence Half Marathon admitted that they encountered a few problems with the race. Black told Stabroek Sport that they had a delay with the start of the race and said transporting of the clock which was provided by NSC was the reason.
“We had problems with the vehicle concerning the clock that the NSC provided and that was the main reason the race started late,” he said.
He said the only athletes he knew that protested about the water stations were the ones behind adding that PowerAde drinks were given after the completion of the race.
“The persons who had problems with water were those who were behind. The elite athletes were satisfied,” he said.
Black acknowledged that the event required more planning and said the organizers tried to make the event successful. “I feel we need to plan a longer period. I think the planning was too short,” he revealed.
