Christianburg-Wismar Secondary v MHS in Independence Athletics C’ships
Guyana Power and Distribution Inc’s Aron Fraser presents a cheque to Haley Rutherford of the MHS/Multi track meet
Past and present athletes from the premier track and field secondary schools in Region 10 — Mackenzie High School (MHS) and Christianburg/Wismar Secondary (Multi) – are set for a head-to-head Independence Day collision in what is being termed “Old School versus New School”.
In an initiative created by former athletes of the two institutions, Shawn ‘Baldhead’ McNeil formerly of MHS, and Floyd Cameron formerly of ‘Multi’, the athletics championship is set for the Mackenzie sports Club ground, and among the sponsors of this inaugural meet are the Guyana Power and Producing Inc., who through Chief Executive Officer Aron Fraser has already handed over a cash donation for its promotion. On behalf of the organisers of the meet, Mrs. Haley Rutherford collected the cheque from CEO Aron Fraser, and thanked the power people for their donation.
McNeil said things are going on as planned, and other entities showing positive interest in this meet so far are beverage giants Banks DIH, Star Party Rentals, the Guyana Defence Force’s Medical Officer Nigel Langhorne and Manager Eaton Cordis.
McNeil recalled that, as two athletes of the 1980s, he and Cameron had shared a common desire to give back to the schools they attended, and they now feel they can collectively make a bigger impression on the young athletes’ minds and at the same time include some former athletes from the two schools in taking to the field.
“We decided to host a championship in our names and pit the two schools against each other. We are calling it the “Old School vs New School Track Athletic Championship,” McNeil quipped.
Looking at what is at stake, McNeil said in a release that, “The only thing a school will get that the other wouldn’t is the bagging rights and trophy, which is being sponsored by Marilyn DeAbreu from the GIVE Foundation, as she has sponsored the winning trophy.”
The events will be for past athletes in the Over-20, Over-40, Over-50 categories, and normal events will be for the athletes who are currently attending school.
He said, “We are also giving each school nothing less than $100,000, (which) will go towards their individual track and field programme,” and hinted, “we also plan to recognise eight former athletes, two males and two females from each school.”
