61st National Cycling, Swimming, and Track and Field Championships run off

The 61st National Cycling, Swimming, and Track and Field Championships officially commenced on November 26 and will conclude on December 1, 2023, hosted by the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Teachers’ Union.
The nation’s best student-athletes and teachers from the 15 districts will be competing for medals and bragging rights in swimming at the National Aquatic Centre, cycling at the National Park, and athletics at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora.
Delivering the feature address, Prime Minister Mark Phillips reiterated the Government of Guyana’s commitment to improving sporting facilities throughout Guyana. He emphasised the importance of aligning academic pursuits with sports to produce well-rounded youths, who can make valuable contributions to Guyana.

He acknowledged Digicel Guyana for its sponsorship of a scholarship to the University of Guyana which will be awarded to the best performing athlete. The Prime Minister further announced that the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Public Service will award a scholarship to the University of Guyana to the second-best performing athlete.
Odida Parkinson of District 3 (West Demerara) won the Boys’ Open 10k race at the National Championships on Sunday afternoon, clocking 36:52.56s in a virtually-unchallenged run from the village of Mary/Harlem into the National Track and Field facility, West Coast Demerara. Coming in second was District 5’s (West Coast Berbice’s) David Bovell with a time of 37:25.90s.
Vannytta Francis of District 9 (Rupununi) won the girls’ 10km road race in 46:51.96s, followed by Royanna Hermanstyne of District 10 (Upper Demerara-Kwakwani) (49:09.51s) and Sheleima Alberts of District 2 (Essequibo Coast & Pomeroon) (53:35.50s).
Alexander Leung of District 11 (North Georgetown) gained first place in the 40km Boys’ Road Race Open Cycling Final followed by Sebastian Nathan of District 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) in second and Ajani Cutting of District 14 in third.
This year, the National Schools’ Cycling, Swimming, and Track and Field Championships are sponsored by Banks DIH Limited, Digicel Guyana, Massy Guyana, and Impressions Inc.(Omar Mckenzie)