KMPA Junior Olympic Games scheduled for October 3 – 6

The third edition of the King Medas/Pansy Adonis (KMPA) Classic — the 2019 staging of these Junior Olympic Games — will continue to feature athletes from the under-6 to the masters’ categories competing in track and field events in four days of excitement.

These Games will be run over the period October 3 to 6, and in excess of $4 million in prizes would up for grabs.
The track and field events would be contested at the Lusignan Community Centre ground, while the feature road race event would begin at Bachelor’s Adventure. Both venues are on the East Coast of Demerara.
This information was furnished by organiser of the event, Andy Medas-King, during the official launch of the Games’ third annual edition at the Studio of Safetv Channel 2 in South Ruimveldt Gardens, Georgetown yesterday.
Medas-King has described the Games as “A nursery for athletics in Guyana”. He said, “Athletes will be competing from the tender age of three to the masters’ category,” and posited that he’s “trying to get youths involved from very young”, for them to grow with a competitive nature “which I hope they can transfer into their academics; and we all know the benefits of being a balanced student.”
For the second year running, the 110m and 400m hurdles events have been included with intention of introducing the events locally, since Guyana usually lacks competitors in these events at regional competitions.
Also open to participation from the differently-able, the Games are anticipated to have keen action between schools, since all 10 regions have been targeted to compete.
In the 17-20 years’ category, athletes will receive a grant for whichever learning institution of their choice.
Lorraine Barker-King of the Ministry of Education’s (MoE’s) Unit of Allied Arts has given the KMPA Foundation approval to include athletes from the various secondary schools.
In a bid to maximise safety during the field events’ day, the rubberised turbo-javelin and 1kg shot-put would be used by the younger kids.
On the initial day, field events will be competed from 10:30hrs. These include the long and high jumps, shot put, javelin and discus events, which will see participation from all age groups.
Day one would also include the heats in all age groups of the 4x100m, 4x400m and 4x800m races.
The 1500m finals, 100m finals and 800m finals would be contested on day two; as would the 200m and 400m heats, and the 80m and 110m hurdles finals. The action would begin from 09:45hrs.
Day three action would begin from 09:45hrs with the usually subscribed sprint finals.
Meanwhile, the final day will have the big money 5k Road Race beginning at Bachelor’s Adventure. Competing events would involve the following categories of athletes: senior male and female, male and female under-21, teachers’ male and female, and Government officials’ male and female.
Cash prizes will be awarded to contestants placing from 1st to 10th spaces.
The biggest race, the Senior Male 5K, will carry a winning purse of $50,000. The second placed athlete would receive $40,000 and 3rd placed $30,000.
The Senior Female 5K will see the winner being awarded $40,000, while second placed athlete would receive $30,000, and 3rd $15,000.
In addition to cash prizes, 1st to 10th place finishers would each receive a trophy; while some lucky student athletes will receive sponsorships from the King Medas/Pansy Adonis Memorial.
There also are two laptops and five desktop computers to be won.
Among the sponsors of the event are Shelmacphotos USA, ANSA McAL, University of Guyana, Prodigal, Sybil’s Bakery in Queens, Banks DIH, Daddy’s Enterprise, Star Party Rentals, Payless Variety Store, NSC, Ministry of Education, Wake Up Guyana Show, Prince Shipping, Island Express, and the Adonis Family.
“While there are a lot of sponsors on board for the event, it costs US$12,000 to run the event, and other sponsors are encouraged to come on board; not really through cash, but through stuff like supplies and accommodation,” Medas-King concluded during the launch.