Three days before the commencement of the South American U-20 Championships, five of the 12 foreign contingents arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Wednesday.
Argentina’s contingent for the South American Games pose for a photo after arrival Wednesday
Among the delegates who touched down to compete at the two-day event on June 3 and 4 at the Leonora Track and Field Facility are the Brazilians, the most successful unit at the Games, along with the Argentina, Colombia, Paraguay and Uruguay teams.
This is the first time that Guyana is hosting an international track and field meet of this calibre as 359 athletes from 13 countries will be competing for medals across a number of events, including the steeplechase, hurdles and pole vault, events which Guyanese will have a chance to see.
Guyana’s hopes of medalling at the games rest largely on the “fastest U-20 sprinter in the Caribbean”, Compton Caesar, who recently copped gold at the CARIFTA Games along with Triple Jumper Chantoba Bright, U-17 athlete Daniel Williams, distance runner Claudrice Mckoy and Anfernee Headecker.
In the non-traditional events, Guyana will be represented by debutant hurdlers Hosea Glenn and Terrence Fraser in the 400 metres hurdles, while Ronaldo Wishart, Nigel Gonsalves and Rondell Newton will seek glory in the 3000m steeplechase.
Tickets to the Championships cost $500 and Guyanese are urged to come out and support the young athletes as they seek to make history this weekend.
The remaining delegates are expected to arrive today.
