National Senior Championships expected to produce fireworks today

The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) will host their National Senior Championships over the next two days, and fireworks are expected as Guyana’s top athletes clash, beginning today.
The meet will feature South American U-20 and CARIFTA 100-metre gold medallist Compton Caesar, who can expect serious competition from senior athlete Rupert Perry in the sprint events.

While the young athletes who are fresh off the highly successful South American U-20 Champions would want to take centre stage, the senior athletes would want to show the nation that they are still a force to be reckoned with. Not only will the field be graced by Guyanese athletes such as Natrena Hooper, Damon Williams, Emmanuel Archibald, Alita Moore, Alisha Fortune, Rupert Perry and Devaun Barrington; a few Surinamese and Brazilian athletes are also expected to participate.
This year’s Championships will see the reintroduction of non-traditional events such as the steeplechase and hurdles, as the association bids to expand the meet and expose athletes to the various events.
In following last year’s trend, a total cash prize of $20,000 will be at stake in each event. This total will be broken down to the winner receiving $10,000 while second and third place finishers are guaranteed $6,000 and $4,000 respectively.
The action starts at 10:00hrs daily at the Leonora National Track and Field Facility. There will be a midday break, followed by a second session beginning at 13:00hrs on Sunday and 14:00hrs on Monday.
The Association will be doubling the event with a fundraising barbecue. Any patron purchasing a barbecue ticket for $1000 will be afforded entry to the event, while regular tickets would cost $500.
The AAG anticipates that a large turnout of spectators would be on hand to witness the National Senior Championships because of the successful staging of the South American U-20 Championships last month.