The Boyce/Jefford Classic is expected to get off to a blazing start as the sixth annual two-day meet will get underway today at the MacKenzie Sports Club ground at 13:00hrs.
The premier track and field event on the Athletic Association of Guyana’s calendar will see the nation’s top athletes matching strides with overseas runners for a stake in the $2M prize money.
Co-founder of the Classic, Edison Jefford was excited about this weekend’s events yesterday.
“We have six international athletes here from Jamaica, Trinidad and The Bahamas that are ready to represent their territories and we have our locals all geared up to defend the home turf so we can’t ask for anything better.”
Bahamian sprinter, Petra McDonald, Trinidad middle distance athletes, Dawnel Collymore and Ashton Gill and Jamaican sprinters, Nicholas Maitland, Keno Burrell and Seidatha Palmer are the international competitors.
Palmer and McDonald will match strides with the local female athletes in the 100 and 200m events while Maitland and Burrell will compete in the male 200m race. Collymore and Gill are 800 and 1500m runners.
Said Jefford “I know our local athletes Winston George, Rupert Perry, Andrea Foster, Compton Caesar and others will put on a show also”.
Jefford added that “The excitement this weekend will come from the competition as we celebrate this sixth milestone in a grand way.”
In addition to the local rivalry, six international events will be staged: 200m (male and female), 800m (male), long jump (male), 1500m (female) and triple jump (female).
The top three finishers of each of the above events will be awarded cash prizes, with the winner being rewarded with $50,000.
The winning club will pocket $600,000 while the runners up will take home $400,000, $250,000 and $150,000.
Tomorrow, athletes will get in the blocks at 13:00hrs also. Admission is $1000. Entertainment will be provided by Slingerz Family.
As customary, the champion male and female athlete will receive $50,000 and trophy. Athletes are allowed to enter a maximum of three events.
On your marks.
