After announcing last month that their National Senior Track and Field Championships would be cancelled completely, the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) have now declared that the meet is back on.
Back in August, the AAG had citied the lack of a suitable venue as reason for cancelling the all-important meet, noting that it was already late in the season to persist with hosting such.
However, with the recent refurbishing of the track at the National Track and Field Center at Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD), it appears that the AAG have had a change of heart.
The Championships will now be staged from today, Friday, September 29th, to Sunday October 1st. The action is scheduled to kick-off at 5:00 pm today, with proceedings commencing at 10:00am on both Saturday and Sunday.
AAG President Amanda Hermonstine
AAG President Sheryl Hermonstine has revealed that the three-day championships would showcase some of the nation’s exceptional athletes alongside participants from Trinidad and Tobago. She has
expressed the AAG’s elation at finally being able to host these long-delayed championships, and has extended gratitude to the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport as well as the National Sports Commission (NSC) for their support.
While the primary focus of these events is on senior athletes, competitors born in 2007 are eligible to participate today in events such as the men’s 10,000m, women’s 5000m, high jump, men’s shot put, and women’s 100m.
“We anticipate three thrilling days of competitive events, and I have full confidence that the athletes and coaches are prepared to deliver,” Hermonstine has said.
Hermonstine said fans will not see Emanuel Archibald, National Champion in the long jump, 100m and 200m, in action, since he’s in preparation mode for next month’s Pan Am Games in Santiago, Chile.
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Running Brave track club, the Police Progressive Youth Club, Hopetown Flames, and athletes from Linden are expected to participate.
Mark Scott serves as the competition’s Technical Delegate, while Kenisha Headley will oversee the sports as the Competitions Secretary.
Hermonstine emphasised the pivotal role played by the technical committee, led by Orin Thomas and his team, in organising the championships.
The AAG President also acknowledged the valuable support of sponsors for the Association’s premier event in 2023, including the KMPA Foundation, Banks DIH, Courts Guyana, GT&T, Guyana Beverages Inc., and Woodpecker Products.
