It is now official, Guyana will be represented by 12 Track and Field athletes at the South American Championships which gets off to a flying start in Ecuador tomorrow.
The goal; to clinch Olympic Games berths at the event which is a qualifier for the Games in Tokyo, Japan this summer.
The contingent of athletes are: Jasmine Abrams, Jenea McCammon, Andrea Foster, Emanuel Archibald, Quamel Prince, Noelex Holder, Jeremy Bascombe, Akeem Stewart, Arinze Chance, Macaiah Washington, Devaun Barrington, and Mark Jhalu.
Team Guyana will miss out on a golden opportunity to field a 4×400 metres relay team after word reached the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG) on Monday ahead of the team’s departure on Tuesday that 2017 South America Games 400m men’s gold medalist, Winston George, sustained an injury and would be unable to compete.
Meanwhile, Johnny Gravesande and Kenisha Headley will act in the capacity of coach and manager of the May 29-31 sojourn.
Funding for the officials and most of the athletes were covered by the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) and its president, K Juman-Yassin, is “very optimistic” that the athletes will make the nation proud.
“I am very optimistic that they will do well,” said Yassin yesterday. “I am looking forward to at least three persons qualifying for the Games.”
Currently, Aliyah Abrams is the only athlete that has qualified for the Olympics, a position she secured since 2019, so she will not be heading to the Championships. Her sister, Jasmine Abrams, who is ranked number one in the 100 metres in South America, will be one of the favourites to earn the gold medal.
The AAG funded the airfares of McCammon, Stewart and Bascombe while the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) purchased tickets for high jumper, Jhalu; long jumper, Washington; and 800 metres specialist, Barrington, who has been outstanding.
From the 12 athletes, the AAG has confirmed that Guyana will be able to field a 4×100 metres relay team. Yassin expressed his excitement at the prospect of Guyana fielding a relay outfit.
“I am excited to know that we have a 4x100m team, that is the start of something. I know they have to work on their baton passing, because that is the key to a successful relay team, but I am excited about that.”
The Olympic Games is scheduled to be held from July 23 to August 8 in Tokyo, Japan and the Paralympics Games from August 24 to September 5. (Emmerson Campbell)
