The Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG) National Senior Championship was scheduled to be held last weekend and Olympian, Emanuel Archibald, was gunning for an emphatic win in the blue riband 100m event.
His goal remains the same and then some when the AAG’s flagship event is staged from June 24-26 at the National Track and Field Centre.
Archibald, 27, told this publication yesterday that he has his sights set on smashing the national record and punching his ticket to the World Athletic Championships which starts July 15 in Eugene, Oregon, USA.
“To qualify for Worlds is the main goal at this meet. I was looking forward to it being held this weekend which would have given me an opportunity to compete at Jamaica’s trials (June 23-26) to get some extra ranking points as well as extra competition to prepare, but it is what it is.”
The qualifying standard for the men’s 100m at ‘Worlds’ is 10.05s. Archibald recorded the second fastest run by a local (10.18s) in April at the National Stadium in Jamaica.
Adam Harris holds the national record of 10.12s. James Gilkes and Jeremy Bascom previously occupied the joint second spot with runs of 10.19s.
The native of Linden who owns the national long jump record (8.12m) stated that he is looking to also become the fastest Guyanese and the first to record a sub-10s timing.
“Becoming the fastest has always been one of my main goals, but to break the national record at National Seniors and qualify for Worlds would give me a feeling of content for all sacrifice and hard work I have been putting in over these past five years.”
The international sprinter, who relishes the opportunity to compete at home, stated that he is excited and opines that this years ‘Seniors’ will be one of the best ever.
“This championship is going to be one best ever, the sprints and the middle distance races. Being home and getting to showcase my talent is always a good thing for me. I love competing at National Seniors and every year I run fast and jump some my best distances at this meet.”
The South American Championships silver and bronze medalist, who represented Guyana at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, added that another goal of his is to capture a global medal at the Worlds or the Olympics.
