Guyana’s biggest track and field competition, the Boyce and Jefford Classic IV is being staged at two venues this year—the Police Sports Club and Mackenzie Sports Club, Linden—and will attract top class local and regional athletes come August 17 and 18.
Telecommunications giant Digicel Guyana is once again on board as the main sponsor of the activity which has over the years, moulded athletes to produce outstanding performances.
The launching of the fourth edition of the Classic was held on Friday at the Digicel’s Head Office in Kingston with Boyce and Jefford Classic Co-Chairmen Colin Boyce and Edison Jefford and Digicel’s Sponsorship and Events Manager Gavin Hope at the head table. The event is being held in accordance with the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) standards.
Regional participation includes Caribbean distance queen Tonya Nero and middle distance star Mark London both of Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada’s Kenisha Pascal and one Suriname athlete to be identified.
Former national sprint champion Boyce said unfortunately no Guyanese-overseas based athlete will compete in this year’s edition.
He pointed out that Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Senior Championships gold medallist Kadecia Baird, who they had hoped to attend the meet will not be able compete, given that she recently qualified for the IAAF World Championship which is also slated for August.
Police Progressive Youth Club will be somewhat depleted as well since last year’s Olympian Winston George, the defending 400m champion of the Classic, will also be at the IAAF World Championship.
However, with the likes of South American U-23 bronze medallist Stephan James, Carifta Games bronze medalist Jason Yaw, and Inter-Guiana Games medallist, Shawn Semple contesting, the 400m will be an event to watch, as a new winner will be named.
Boyce said it was rather unfortunate that last year’s weather pattern resulted in the meet almost being cancelled. “I want to say openly, thanks to those clubs, managers, officials, athletes who saw it fit to compete irrespective of the weather…,” he said.
The Management Committee, according to the Co-Chairman, has taken up the proposal of local clubs to host the competition over a two day period. “It was a welcome sign and I thought it was a wise suggestion coming from the clubs and we readily accepted it,” he said.
“This year’s edition and onwards we will have two days [of] competition so that the athletes can have some amount of rest rather than having to run Sunday morning, rest then come again later in the afternoon.”
Lucrative cash prizes along with trophies will be awarded, with the winning club of the classic receiving $500,000; the second and third place finishers getting $300,000 and $200,000 respectively.
This year for the first time cash prizes will also be available for the fourth to sixth place finishers. The Co-Chairman said this inclusion was made to facilitate the smaller clubs. The champion male and female athletes will win $50,000 each along with trophies.
Cash incentives for athletes who break meet records are also being considered.
Boyce, in expressing his appreciation said the past three years of the event had been successful and vowed that this year’s edition will be much more exciting.
m left are Boyce and Jefford Classic Technical Delegate, Cornell Rose, Co-Chariman Edison Jefford, Digicel’s Sponsorship and Events Manager, Gavin Hope, Co-Chairman Colin Boyce and Shanomae Blackmore, Secretary. Standing behind are local athletes. (Photo by Orlando Charles)
