The first leg of the XX annual Inter Guiana Games (IGG) came and went just like the times some of the athletes recorded on the track over the weekend in regaining the track and field title.
Team Guyana however were the runners up in the pool and on the basketball court.
The efforts by the competitors were enough to place Guyana in the lead ahead of the second staging of the event in October in Suriname.
Here is a recap of the three-discipline, two-day championships.
Track and Field
Standout athletes Avon Samuels, Cassey George, Tevin Garraway, Kevin Abbensetts, Jason Yaw and Natricia Hooper helped the local outfit to wrest the Track and Field Championship trophy from Suriname.
With their podium worthy performances at the Camp Ayangana ground, the national athletes tallied 333 points. Suriname were 38 points in arrears.
Swimming
After the final splash at the National Aquatic Centre, Guyana’s swimmers finished in the cellar on 146 points.
The Surinamese led the point standing after amassing 208 points. French Guiana was a close second with 200 points.
The French visitors won the girls category with 97 points with Suriname two points adrift. Guyana had 84.
Suriname’s male swimmers ensured their country would take the overall spoils by racking up 113 points compared to French Guiana (103 points) and the host (62 points).
Basketball
Both (male and female) local basketball teams finished second in their respective categories. The male team took silver to Suriname while the females were runners up to the French ballers.
Meanwhile, the first leg of the Games were officially closed on Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sport, Alfred King.
Director of Sport, Neil Kumar who chaired the ceremony, praised the return of the participation of French Guiana after their absence last year.
Suriname’s Director of Sport, Ismanto Tiana, took the opportunity to note that the next stage of the Games will be held in his native country in October.
Tiana also reminded the athletes that the Games are an important part in the developing their athletic talents since being a world standard athlete begins with being a national athlete.
Making brief remarks at the event was also a representative of French Guiana who noted the level of togetherness that the hosting of the Games has been fostering among the three countries. (Emmerson Campbell)
