For athletes, the Golden Jubilee Independence celebrations would not be complete without a Golden Mile.
The Professional Key Shop and the Wind Jammer Hotel will make that a possibility on Sunday.
These and other details were discussed yesterday at the 704 Sports Bar, during the formal launch of inaugural Professional Key Shop and the Wind Jammer Hotel Golden Mile.
Scheduled for a 4pm start, seasoned and casual senior athletes will compete for a $75,000 first prize and a trophy.
The event which starts at 704, proceeds west along Lamaha and finish in Carmichael Street in front of the Professional Key Shop, will also cater for junior and masters athletes with incentives going to the top four in each division.
CEOs of the Professional Key Shop and Wind Jammer Hotel, Kwame Ridley and Carey Griffith told media operatives that 5k and 10k races which they both compete in are quite routine in Guyana but they wanted to bring a new flavor hence the Golden Mile.
“We wanted to do something different and add some new flavor to distance running here in Guyana” said Griffith. He added “We feel that this Golden Mile will be very competitive and we expect to say all the big names as well as casual runners compete.”
Distance dynamo, Cleveland Forde along with national runners, Cleveland Thomas and Winston Missigher (who has won the last two 10ks) are the favorites to take the inaugural winner’s trophy of the Professional Key Shop and the Wind Jammer Hotel Golden Mile.
Meanwhile, president of the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG), Aubrey Hutson gave the event his blessing and stated that the association “will ensure that the ethics of the IAAF are adhered to in order to ensure the safety of each starter.”
Interested persons can call 621-3249 or 231-7106-7to register for the fixture which will be an annual one according to Ridley.
Registration cost $1000. (Emmerson Campbell)
