The Guyana Ex-Athletes and Friends are set to host their annual Independence Road Race this Sunday, May 26, with something in store for competitors of all ages.
The annual event will be centred around the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary, Georgetown, where the one-mile race will begin and conclude and the more tedious 5K and 10K races will conclude.
The Under-9 and Under-12 athletes will compete in a one-mile run, around the Eve Leary area for prizes that include bicycles, tablets and stocked backpacks, among other items, while the older teens (Under- 19) can test their mettle in the Open 5K run.
As is customary, the experienced seniors and masters will take on the 10K run, which is tentatively set to commence on Carifesta Avenue.
Guyana Ex-Athletes and Friends President Burgette Williams Forde (centre) is surrounded by AAG General Secretary James Cole (second from right) and other Executives of the group
The male and female seniors in the 10K event will be competing for a first prize of $60,000 cash, along with a smart television. Second place will pocket $55,000 while third and fourth place receive $50,000 and $45,000 respectively. The fifth-place finisher will receive a watch.
President of the Ex-Athletes and Friends Group, Burgette Williams-Forde spoke about their focus on rewarding the younger athletes, while shouting out the sponsors who made the wide array of prizes possible.
“The youth of Guyana is the future of tomorrow, so, we have to invest in them,” Williams-Forde shared.
The former athlete went on to add, “Our sponsors, they enjoy being involved in something that is giving back. Without our sponsors, this would not have happened.”
Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) General Secretary James Cole was on hand to share remarks and highlighted the AAG’s involvement in lengthening the list of prizes.
“We want to say thanks for another year of collaboration that is made between the Guyana Ex-Athletes and the Athletics Association of Guyana for this venture. It adds towards our sport in terms of having our athletes more advanced in Road Race, 10K, 5K and the one mile. This year is no different and the Association would’ve added more prizes. So, that all athletes who are competing, those who did not make it to the top 1-12, they’ll still be able to gain a token for participation,” the AAG General Secretary related.
James also divulged one of the aims of collaborating with the Ex-Athletes and Friends for the event, which includes preparing Guyana road runners for a bigger stage.
James disclosed, “The 10K, 5K will be giving our Guyanese scope to move on to further afield, in terms of the marathon run. Over the years, Guyana would not have entered persons to compete in the marathon run and we’re hoping somewhere in the near future, maybe next year, we’ll start getting persons for those marathon championships.”
The one-mile race is set to blow off at 14:30h, while the 5K and 10K races are likely to commence at 15:00h.
