The Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG) yesterday named a three-member team to represent Guyana at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile next month.
Sprinters, Emanuel Archibald and Aliyah Abrams along with javelin record holder, Leslain Baird will be the nation’s representatives at the October 20 to November 5 multi-sport, quadrennial event.
This is according to General Secretary of the association, James Cole.
Cole also told this publication that Johnny Gravesande will perform the duties of coach on the sojourn for the contingent which is set to depart on October 16.
Archibald, 28, is enjoying a purple patch and will look to build on his mid season success next month.
In July, the Jamaica based athlete raced to the top of the podium in 10.24s at the CAC Games in the blue riband 100m in El Salvador.
He then took his talents to the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary last month and clinched a semi-finals berth after clocking a personal best 10.13s.
Archibald who will be making his second appearance at the Games, stated that he has aspirations to run sub-10 seconds. If the feat is achieved, he will be the first Guyanese to do so and erase Adam Harris’ national record which stands at 10.12s.
Abrams who erased Aliann Pompey’s 400m national record in May in the Bahamas in 50.71s, will also aspire for late season success after fading to fifth in her opening race on the homestretch in Budapest. The USA born 26 year-old is a two-time Olympian and will be looking to add Pan Am hardware to her list of accomplishments.
Meanwhile, Baird who finished just off the podium in fourth at this year’s CAC, will also aim to climb the podium steps in Chile next month during the 19th edition of the the oldest continental Games in the world. (Emmerson Campbell)
