In excess of 70 of the nation’s long distance athletes have already registered to compete in the local leg of the South American 10Km road race scheduled for Sunday at West Demerara.
The number could significantly increase on race day as the event continues to gather steam from the competition starved athletes who will have the added incentive of pocketing lucrative cash prizes.
Yesterday, President of the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG), Aubrey Hutson, said that the prize money for the 18th annual fixture did take a hit due to the lack of sponsors stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, however the top finishers will be rewarded with a tidy sum.
The first five open male and female finishers will each take home $150, 000, $125, 000, $100 000, $75, 000 and $50, 000 in that order.
The event, which traditionally starts on the streets of the city and finishes in the National Park, will commence at Mary on the West Coast of Demerara from 14:00hrs and conclude at the finish line of the National Track and Field Centre.
Hutson expects keen competition among the elite runners on the West Side come Sunday.
Jonathan Fagundes, Ronell Newton, Jonathan Fordyce, Cleveland Forde, Winston Missigher and Cleveland Thomas will be the front runners vying for spots on the podium.
