Ecuador was named as the new host of this year’s South American Championships from May 29-31 and the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG) has named 12 athletes who could potentially compete at the fixture.
Originally set for this weekend in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the biennial athletics event was shifted to Guayaquil, Ecuador, due to a surge in cases of COVID-19 and a change in health and safety protocols.
The event, the top area championships and Olympic Qualifier, will test the mettle of the athletes and the association amidst the pandemic.
The AAG will now have to scramble to seek funding for the athletes many of which are United States of America-based.
According to President of the AAG, Aubrey Hutson, a ball park figure of $US2000 is estimated to cover the cost of one person. Along with the athletes, a coach and a manager will also make up the contingent, hence approximately $US28, 000 will be needed.
Said Hutson yesterday, “With the present situation, we will have to lean heavily on the government, the GOA and the athletes themselves to make this sojourn a reality.”
The named athletes include two-time Olympian, Winston George, Quamel Prince, Jeremy Bascombe, Emanuel Archibald, Akeem Stewart, Arinze Chance, Devaughn Barrington, Andrea Foster, Aliyah Abrams, Jasmine Abrams, Janea McCammon and Mark Jhalu.
Of the athletes, only Stewart, Barrington and Jhalu are based here.
Hutson could not state definitively who will be tasked with the duties of coach and manager to Ecuador.
He, however, stated that Guyana could field a men’s 4x100m relay team at the Olympic Games this summer.
He disclosed that the association is hoping to build a team around sprinters such as Archibald, Stewart, Bascombe and George.
“The Athletic Association of Guyana is impressed with some of the performances of the athletes that we have seen running the 100m,” said Hutson recently.
“I think it is a good opportunity this year if they can keep up their performances for us to venture into 4x100m territory for the Olympics,” he had added.
Archibald, who is also looking to qualify for the men’s long jump, has recorded the fastest time for a local sprinter so far this season, clocking 10.21s in the blue riband event.
The AAG head however, disclosed that in order for a local team to be ranked among the top 16, it must compete in an international event. He mentioned that the South American Senior Championships could provide the perfect opportunity for the team.
“We must have this team to go to the South American Senior Championships if we are to be serious about their participation at the Olympics. They must enter into international competition and be ranked there. They just can’t run as a team at home, there must be international competition.”
He added “We will continue to work with the GOA to provide avenues for them to compete in order to make a genuine bid to have them run in Tokyo.”
The Olympic Games are scheduled to be held from July 23 to August 8 in Tokyo, Japan and the Paralympics from August 24 to September 5.
