Amidst the Phagwah celebrations, the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) will stage its fourth and final CARIFTA Games at the National Track and Field Centre.
This is according to AAG president Aubrey Hutson who spoke with this publication yesterday.
Teen athletes with aspirations of representing Guyana at this year’s games in Jamaica will have another opportunity to punch their tickets to compete with the region’s best.
Athletes are scheduled to get into the blocks tomorrow and Saturday from 10:00hrs.
The trials, will be used to select Guyana’s team to the 49th edition of the event.
Jamaica is set to host this year’s games from April 16 to 18 after receiving their government’s backing following the cancellation of the last two editions due to COVID-19.
The 2020 event was scheduled to be held in Bermuda but was postponed to 2021 before being cancelled as a result of ongoing coronavirus-related concerns in that territory and worldwide.
Standout local junior athletes will be eager to reach or surpass the qualifying standards set by the AAG in order to compete among the region’s best in the ‘Land of Wood and Water’ during the Easter weekend.
Following the first three trials, nine standouts, Wesley Tyndall, Anisha Gibbons, Keliza Smith, Attoya Harvey, Adriel Austin, Shamar Horatio, Naris McPherson (800m) along with Javon Roberts (800m) and triple jumper Trevon Hamer qualified for the games.
Smith, 18, punched her ticket in the 100m and 200m, Tyndall (long jumper) and Gibbons (javelin) qualified in the field events while Austin and Harvey went under the qualifying standard in the 800m and 1500m.
Horatio, 19, qualified for the blue riband boys 17-19 100m and 200m events.
Hutson also told this publication that he envisions at least three more joining the qualifiers.
Tomorrow and Saturday’s activities should be highly competitive as there are several rivalries among the teen track and field stars in the 592.
Hutson stated that he expects in excess of 100 athletes competing for spots on the team.
