Despite some scintillating performances, the number of qualifiers remained at nine after the curtain came down on the fourth and final CARIFTA Games trials yesterday at the National Track and Field Centre.
That number will more than likely increase however, as several athletes will be considered for selection since they were agonizingly close to the qualifying standard.
This is according to President of the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG), Aubrey Hutson.
The confirmed qualifiers so far are 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.
Smith recorded a sprint double with wins in the100m and 200m events this past weekend. Tyndall (long jumper) and Gibbons (javelin) qualified in the field events with wins this past weekend and during the other trials as did while Austin (400 and 800m) and Harvey who went under the qualifying standard in the 800m and 1500m.
Horatio, 19, qualified for the blue riband 100m and 200m events.
Hutson told this publication that he envisions at least three more athletes joining the qualifiers.
Karese Lloyd who ran 11.84s in the 100m event which had an entry standard of 11.80s is among the athletes that will be considered to compete at the event in Jamaica during the Easter weekend.
Said Hutson “We have to look at relays and athletes in the diaspora who are performing close to the standards that we have set for Jamaica. We have until April 1 to select our final team.”
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 then postponed to 2021 before being cancelled as a result of ongoing coronavirus-related concerns in that territory and worldwide. Guyana is scheduled to host the fixture next year.
