Inter-Guiana Games 2023: 21 medals for Athletics on Day 1 as Games commence

Team Guyana got off to a flying start at this year’s Inter-Guiana Games, which commenced yesterday, Friday, in Paramaribo, Suriname.
Scores of teenage Guyanese athletes have travelled to neighbouring Suriname to compete in eight disciplines at the Games, namely: Athletics, Basketball, Chess, Futsal, Football, Lawn tennis, Swimming, and Volleyball.
To get the ball rolling on the first day of competition, the track-and-field team bagged a whopping 21 medals on Friday, inclusive of 11 Gold, 6 Silver and 4 Bronze.

Guyana’s golden Girls Tianna Springer led the charge with gold in the 400M in 59.16s, while Joanna Anthon took bronze in 1:07.31. French Guiana’s Tara Lafontaine picked up silver in 1:04.20.
Afi Blair and Enoch Munroe took gold and silver in the Boys’ version of that event, crossing the line in 52.73s and 53.56s respectively, while Suriname’s Luciano Hertsberg completed the podium in 54.25s.
Ezekiel Newton and Jaheel Cornette went for the ‘1 and 2’ in the Boys’ 100M in 11.23s and 11.55s respectively, as Franch Guiana’s Dayvan Madeleine stopped the clock at 12.19s for third place.
Meanwhile, in the 100M distaff side, Guyana’s Athaleya Hinckson clinched gold by crossing the line in 12.61s. She was trailed by French Guiana’s Jessika Ringuet in 13.25s and Xuae Trustfull of Suriname in 13.46s.
Also on the podium was Guyana’s Letifah James, who threw 8.89M for silver in the Girls’ shotput event. The event was won by French Guiana’s Janaell Metella with a throw of 11.40M, while Suriname’s Davienta Djoe was third with a throw of 8.35M.
In the male version of the event, Guyana took gold and bronze following outstanding performances from Jamie Fraser (12.81M) and Jaheme Henry (11.30M). Suriname’s Shemar Blankendaal copped silver with a throw of 11.53M.
In the Girls’ 1500M event, Marissa Thomas and Esther McKinnon secured gold and silver for Guyana, as they stopped the clock in 5:30.53 and 5:32.07 respectively.

French Guiana’s Milienne Mazonoe completed the podium in 6:18.42.
In the Boys’ version of that event, Javon Roberts secured another gold medal for Guyana with a run of 4:30.47. Another Guyanese, Jamol Sullivan, was close behind for silver in 4:30.65, while Isaiah Jacott of Suriname was third in 4:35.32.
In field events, Kaidon Persaud finished atop the pool of javelin throwers with a throw of 49.13M. French Guiana’s Sidney Yarde was second with a throw of 39.30M, while Suriname’s Mekhi Imang was third with a throw of 34.74M.
For the Girls, Guyana took silver and bronze, as Sheneque Holder and Tamara Mingo threw 24.30M and 23.76M respectively. The event was won by Laoane Joseph of French Guiana with a throw of 31.86M.
Over in the Long Jump pit, Immanuel Adams brought home Gold with a leap of 6.23M, ahead of a French Guiana duo. Andy Mertosetiko and Boris Moassa jumped 5.91M and 5.80M for silver and bronze respectively.
The icing on the cake for the athletics team on Friday was a victory in the Boys’ 4X100M relay. Ezekiel Newton, Jaheel Cornette, Robert Marcus and Enoch Munroe were the quartet responsible for adding another gold medal to Guyana’s tally.
Football
Over at the Transvaal Ground in Paramaribo, Omar Sam netted a double to set up a 2-0 win for Guyana’s Boys against French Guiana.
Sam first found the back of the net in the 22nd minute, and later made it a 2-0 affair in the 70th minute.
The Inter Guiana Games will continue today, Saturday, with Athletics in action once again. The Day’s events will commence with the Boys’ 5000M race.
Meanwhile, the Games are set to conclude on Sunday, November 19, with the athletes set to return home the following day.